Crying to the Lord: Nina Simone's "Sinnerman" - VoegelinView
: The recording features Simone on piano and vocals, Al Schackman and Rudy Stevenson on guitar, Lisle Atkinson on double bass, and Bobby Hamilton on drums.
: Clocking in at over 10 minutes, the song features dramatic shifts in intensity, including a famous middle section characterized by rhythmic hand-claps and pulsing piano. 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
: Some critics view the song as an exploration of identity and the "creative destruction" required for personal growth and transformation. Crying to the Lord: Nina Simone's "Sinnerman" -
: A notable highlight is the vocal breakdown where Simone and her band chant "power" in a raw, emotional call-and-response. Meaning and Themes
: The song is an African American traditional spiritual that dates back to the early 20th century. Musical Composition : Some critics view the song
: 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.