Scripture Verse

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father…So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29–31

Introduction

Words & Mu­sic: Ste­phen V. R. Ford, Me­lo­dies for Lit­tle Peo­ple (New York: Hunt & Ea­ton, 1891), num­ber 81 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Ford (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

portrait

Little birds their mak­er praise,
Why not I? Why not I?
Songs of gra­ti­tude they raise,
Why not I? Why not I?

Refrain

He who notes the spar­row’s fall,
Is my Lord, my life, my all;
’Twas for me He came to die,
Who should praise Him if not I?

Little birds are free from care,
Why not I? Why not I?
Happy all the day they are,
Why not I? Why not I?

Refrain

Little birds are free from sin,
Why not I? Why not I?
Pure and in­no­cent with­in,
Why not I? Why not I?

Refrain