Sinner Man is not one of your typical uplifting spirituals. The singer warns their abuser, likely the slave owner, that the day of judgment is coming and that there will be nowhere to hide. The TTBB arrangement was commissioned and premiered by the Maryland State Boychoir. A version for treble voices was created in 2018, following the breaking of silence surrounding sexual assault. The sinner man still lives among us.
Oh, sinner man, where you gonna run to?
Oh, sinner man, where you gonna run to?
Oh, sinner man, where you gonna run to?
All on that day!
Run to the rock, rock was a-meltin',
Run to the rock, rock was a-meltin',
Run to the rock, rock was a-meltin',
All on that day!
Run to the sea, sea was a-boilin',
Run to the sea, sea was a-boilin',
Run to the sea, sea was a-boilin',
All on that day!
Run to the moon, moon was a-bleedin',
Run to the moon, moon was a-bleedin',
Run to the moon, moon was a-bleedin',
All on that day!
Run to the Lord, Lord won't you hide me?
Run to the Lord, Lord won't you hide me?
Run to the Lord, Lord won't you hide me?
All on that day!
Oh, sinner man, you should-a been a-pray-in',
Oh, sinner man, you should-a been a-pray-in',
Oh, sinner man, you should-a been a-pray-in',
All on that day!