The idea of a wrathful and punitive god is deeply out of fashion, making it hard to take this song’s message too seriously. But what if it’s not literally about going to some cartoonish Bad Place when we die, but simply running from hard truths? We can distract ourselves all the way to the grave without ever coming clean to ourselves and everyone else. The world has always made escapism easy. In this song—a masterpiece of arrangement and performance—Simone’s raw, urgent voice reminds us there’s ultimately no refuge or hiding place. But perhaps not hiding is the point.

“Sinnerman,” 19th-century spiritual, writer unknown. Arranged and performed by Nina Simone, 1965.

This post is part of Music 100, a love letter to songs. 100 words on 100 songs in 100 days, running from Groundhog Day to summer, 2025.

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