Nina Simone - Sinnerman Today

: The lyrics draw heavily from the Book of Exodus and Psalm 78 , depicting a sinner attempting to hide from God’s wrath on Judgment Day. The sinner seeks refuge in "the rock," "the river," and "the sea," only to find no place to hide.

Crying to the Lord: Nina Simone's "Sinnerman" - VoegelinView Nina Simone - Sinnerman

: Before recording it for Pastel Blues , Simone often used "Sinnerman" to close her sets in Greenwich Village, intending to "shake people up" so they would leave the club "in pieces". Musical Composition : The lyrics draw heavily from the Book

: Simone learned the song as a child from her mother, a Methodist minister, who used it at revival meetings to help people confess their sins. " "the river