Sinnerman

"Sinnerman" is an American traditional spiritual song that has been recorded by a number of performers. The song dates to the turn of the 20th century[citation needed] but most modern recorded versions derive from 1959 changes and additions codified by the folk music group the Weavers. The Weavers' performance of the song appears on their compilation albums Gospel and Reunion at Carnegie Hall Part 2. "Sinnerman" (spelled as one word) is one of Nina Simone's most famous songs and she recorded her definitive 10-minute plus version on her 1965 album Pastel Blues. Simone learned the lyrics of this song in her childhood when it was used at revival meetings by her mother, (a Methodist minister) to help people confess their sins. In the early days of her career (early sixties when she was heavily involved in the Greenwich Village scene), Simone often used the long piece to end her live performances. An earlier version of this song exists, recorded live at The Village Gate, but was never used on the 1962 Colpix album Nina at the Village Gate. Nina Simone's version of Sinnerman has been sampled by hip-hop producer Kanye West for the Talib Kweli song "Get By", by Timbaland for the song "Oh Timbaland", and by Felix da Housecat for Verve Record's "Verve Remixed" series. It has also been covered by 16 Horsepower on their album Folklore, and by Zegota on their self-titled 7". French rapper Abd al-Malik sampled Simone's version for the title track of his 2006 album "Gibraltar". He also sampled Simone's version of "See Line Woman" for the track "Le grand frère" on the same album. "Sinnerman" was featured in 1999's "The Thomas Crown Affair, in 2004 in Cellular from David R. Ellis and in the 2006 Michael Mann film Miami Vice. On TV her song Sinnerman was heard on Homicide: Life On The Street Sins of the Father * 87. * Season: 6 * Episode: 10 * First Aired: 1/9/1998.

Oh, Sinnerman, where you gonna run to? Sinnerman, where you gonna run to? Where you gonna run to? All on that day Well I run to the rock, please hide me I run to the Rock, please hide me I run to the Rock, please hide me, Lord All on that day But the rock cried out, I can't hide you The Rock cried out, I can't hide you The Rock cried out, I ain't gonna hide you guy All on that day I said, "Rock, what's a matter with you, Rock?" "Don't you see I need you, Rock?" Lord, Lord, Lord All on that day So I run to the river, it was bleeding I run to the sea, it was bleeding I run to the sea, it was bleeding All on that day So I run to the river, it was boiling I run to the sea, it was boiling I run to the sea, it was boiling All on that day So I run to the Lord, please hide me Lord Don't you see me praying? Don't you see me down here praying? But the Lord said, "Go to the devil" The Lord said, "Go to the devil" He said, "Go to the devil" All on that day So I ran to the devil, he was waiting I ran to the devil, he was waiting Ran to the devil, he was waiting All on that day I cried, power (Power to the Lord) Power (Power to the Lord) Power (Power to the Lord) Power Bring down (Power to the Lord) Bring down (Power to the Lord) Bring down (Power to the Lord) Bring down (Power to the Lord) Power (Power to the Lord) Power (Power to the Lord) Power (Power to the Lord) Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah Well I run to the river, it was boiling I run to the sea, it was boiling I run to the sea, it was boiling All on that day So I ran to the Lord I said, "Lord hide me, please hide me" "Please help me" All on that day He said, "Child, where were you When you ought a been praying?" I said,"Lord, Lord, hear me praying" Lord, Lord, hear me praying Lord, Lord, hear me praying" All on that day Sinnerman you ought a be praying Ought a be praying, Sinnerman Ought a be praying All on that day I cried, power (Power to the Lord) Power (Power to the Lord) Power (Power to the Lord) Power (Power to the Lord) Power (Power to the Lord) Power (Power to the Lord) Power (Power to the Lord) Power (Power to the Lord) Power (Power to the Lord) Power (Power to the Lord) Power (Power to the Lord) Power (Power to the Lord) Power (Power to the Lord) Go down (Power to the Lord) Go down (Power to the Lord) Go down (Power to the Lord) Power (Power to the Lord) Power (Power to the Lord) Power (Power to the Lord) Oh woh, power, power, Lord Don't you knew Don't you know, I need you Lord? Don't you know that, I need you? Don't you know that, I need you? Power, power, power Lord