Turn, Sinner, Turn O!
DESCRIPTION: "Turn, sinner, turn today, turn, Sinner, turn O!" (x2). "Wait not for tomorrow's sun." "Tomorrow's sun will sure to shine." "The sun may shine, but on your grave." "Hark, I hear them sinner say" "If you get to heaven I'll get there too."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1867 (Allen/Ware/Garrison-SlaveSongsUnitedStates)
KEYWORDS: religious nonballad death
FOUND IN: US(SE)
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Allen/Ware/Garrison-SlaveSongsUnitedStates, pp. 36-37, "Turn, Sinner, Turn O!" (2 texts, 1 tune with variants)
Killion/Waller-ATreasuryOfGeorgiaFolklore, pp. 245-246, "Turn, Sinner, Turn" (1 text)
Roud #11991
NOTES [35 words]: Possibly suggested by Jesus's parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12:16-21, in which God says to a man who has devoted all his energy to short-term wealth, "Fool! This very night your soul is demanded of you...." - RBW
Last updated in version 5.2
File: AWG036
Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Song List
Go to the Ballad Index Instructions
Go to the Ballad Index Bibliography or Discography
The Ballad Index Copyright 2024 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.