Nina Simone - Sinnerman May 2026

: 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.

: Some critics view the song as an exploration of identity and the "creative destruction" required for personal growth and transformation. Nina Simone - Sinnerman

: 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. : Clocking in at over 10 minutes, the

: 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. The sinner seeks refuge in "the rock," "the

"Sinnerman" is one of Nina Simone's most iconic and powerful recordings, serving as the 10-minute finale to her 1965 album Pastel Blues . A tour de force of jazz, soul, and gospel, the track is celebrated for its frenetic energy, complex arrangement, and Simone's impassioned vocal delivery. Origins and History

: 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.

: 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