Downpressor Man
Sinéad O'Connor Lyrics


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Downpressor man
Where you gonna run to
Downpressor man
Where you gonna run to
Downpressor man
Where you gonna run to

Oh, along that day

If you run to the sea
The sea will be boiling
If you run to the sea
The sea will be boiling
If you run to the sea
The sea will be boiling

Oh, along that day

Downpressor man
Where you gonna run to
Downpressor man
Where you gonna run to
Downpressor man
Where you gonna run to

Oh, along that day

If you run to the rocks
The rocks will be melting
If you run to the rocks
The rocks will be melting
If you run to the rocks
The rocks will be melting




Oh, along that day

Downpressor man
Where you gonna run to
Tell me downpressor man
Where you gonna run to
Downpressor man
Where you gonna run to

Oh, along that day

And if you make your bed in hell
I will be there
Make your bed in hell
I will be there
I said, make your bed in hell
I will be there

Oh, along that day

Downpressor man
Where you gonna run to
Tell me downpressor man
Where you gonna run to
Downpressor man
Where you gonna run to

Oh, along that day

If you run to the rocks
The rocks will be melting
If you run to the rocks
The rocks will be melting
If you run to the rocks
The rocks will be melting

Oh, along that day

Downpressor man
Where you gonna run to
Downpressor man
Where you gonna run to
Downpressor man
Where you gonna run to

Oh, along that day

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Downpressor Man" by Sinéad O'Connor are an interpretation of the traditional Jamaican song "Sinner Man". The song tells the story of a downpressor man, or oppressor, who is fleeing from the consequences of his actions. The lyrics ask where the oppressor will run to and predict that there will be no escape from the forces of justice that will be unleashed. The first verse repeats the question "where you gonna run to" three times, emphasizing the oppressor's lack of options.


The second verse suggests that even the sea, a natural force that has often been seen as a place of refuge or escape, will be of no help to the downpressor man. The repetition of the phrase "the sea will be boiling" emphasizes the intensity of the situation and the inevitability of the oppressor's fate. The third verse suggests that the same fate awaits the oppressor if he tries to hide in the rocks.


The final verse suggests that there is no escape from justice, even in hell. The singer promises to be there, suggesting that justice will be done even after death. Overall, the song emphasizes the inevitability of justice and the inescapable consequences of oppression.


Line by Line Meaning

Downpressor man
Addressing someone who oppresses others


Where you gonna run to
Asking where the oppressor will go to escape judgment


Oh, along that day
Referring to the day of accountability and reckoning


If you run to the sea
Even if the oppressor tries to escape by going to the sea


The sea will be boiling
The sea will become hostile, symbolizing the destructiveness of the oppressor's actions


If you run to the rocks
Even if the oppressor tries to hide among the rocks


The rocks will be melting
The rocks will become unstable, symbolizing the vulnerability of the oppressor's hiding place


Tell me downpressor man
Asking the oppressor again where they will go to escape judgment


And if you make your bed in hell
Even if the oppressor chooses to dwell in a place of evil


I will be there
Implying that divine justice will still be served




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PETER TOSH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@Jo-Wilbe-Dina

I recently became a Kris Kristofferson fan after listening to the Highwayman and some of his songs like Sunday Morning Coming Down and Help Me Make It Through The Night. To find out this video and learned that he just recently died only 6 days ago and supported a woman years ago who got booed off the stage was a lot to take in, rip legend.

For those of you who don't know who Kris Kristofferson is, he's up there with Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Johnny Cash as one of the great country legends as well as one of the best and most humble songwriters of all time. But furthermore,

He was a sailor.
He was born upon the tide.
With the sea he did abide.
He sailed a schooner around the horn to Mexico.
He went aloft to furl the mainsail in a blow.
And when the yards broke off they said that he got killed.
But he is living still.

R.I.P. Kris Kristofferson (1936-2024)
R.I.P. Sinead O'Connor (1966-2023)



@siggilinde5623

Everyone booing her is applauding child abuse.

It is horrible enough that it destroys one soul.
But it is always more than one.

My grandmother was abused by the local priest.
She started torturing her son (my dad) when he was around 10 years old.
He fled when he was 16. Desperate for company, found the wrong criminal kind...all in all 10 years in prison.
It took many years of therapy, but to me he was a great father who was able to find the right way.



All comments from YouTube:

@knight449

She was supposed to sing "I believe in You" before she was booed off the stage. Here's a link to the rehearsal version of the song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C7tAp5X6Zo

@MrFuglyUgly

She was booed for standing up against Vatican crimes against children, which everyone back then knew it was going on. ... Not a fan of her music. But I am a fan of what she did. She’s a hero in my book. All those booing are accessories to the Catholic Priest crimes against children, which the VATICAN covered up & looked the other way, instead of squashing.

@loularton

What a talentless ham artist she was.

@EdwardoMarbella-c1r

Natalie Portman

@primordial-zeitgeist

She is protesting the child sex abuse by Catholic Priests completely understandable.

@monrepos1001

the catholic Chuch is NOT the problem,who cant you talk about and criticize in the world its the Holocaust,the Jewish religion and Jews and Israel, that's the problem!

55 More Replies...

@sinbad5079

Imagine booing someone that is speaking up against Child abuse.

@lailamiqbel4108

People do the same for the disgusting people murdering thousandsss of children right now. It’s insane. No humanity.

@jenifernadeau

We've been watching it happen for years😢 they're not too happy that that was what Trump was doing more than any other president, which is why they didn't advertise it because the media's commissioned from the deep state😢 which is why they're doing everything they can to stop him from destroying the pedophile rings and exposing How Deep The pedophilia goes

@Therizinosaurus

wait, lol, the audience was supporting pedophile religious figures

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