Sermon

The speaker is preparing the listener for a specific atmosphere or context.

As if the listener is in a gathering or audience.

Referring to a discussion about Judgment Day, a concept from various religious beliefs indicating a time of reckoning or divine judgment.

Encouraging attentive listening to the speaker or preacher.

Emphasizing the consequences of one's actions despite attempting to evade or escape them; divine judgment will eventually catch up.

Run on for a long time

Run on for a long time

But God Almighty's gonna cut you down

Listing various types of individuals who will face consequences; suggesting that no one is exempt from divine judgment.

Gonna tell that midnight rider

Tell the gambler, rambler, back-biter

God Almighty's gonna cut him down

Expressing a personal encounter with the divine, possibly referencing a moment of repentance or seeking forgiveness.

My head's been wet with the midnight deed

I been down on bended knee

Talkin' to the man from Galilee

My God spoke, spoke so sweet

I thought I heard the shufflin' of angels' feet

He put one hand on my head

Great God Almighty, let me tell you what he said

Reiteration of the inevitability of facing consequences despite attempts to evade them.

Run on for a long time

Run on for a long time

God Almighty's gonna cut you down

Highlighting the futility of hiding one's misdeeds as they will eventually come to light and be judged.

Workin' in the dark against your fellow man

But sure as God made the day and night

What you do in the dark will be brought to light

You may run and hide, slip and slide

Tryin' to take the mote from your neighbor's eye

But sure as the Lord may be rich and poor

What you reap, my brother, is what you sow

Reiterating the futility of trying to escape divine consequences.

Run on for a long time

You may run on for a long time

But God Almighty's gonna cut you down

Similar to earlier lines, emphasizing the certainty of divine judgment for various types of individuals.

Gonna tell that midnight rider

Tell the gambler, rambler, back-biter

God Almighty's gonna cut her down

Warning against infidelity or betrayal, suggesting that such actions will have repercussions and lead to regret.

They try to make a date with their neighbor's wife

But let me tell you brother, just as sure as you're born

Better leave that woman, better leave her alone

One of these days, mark my words

You'll think that your brother's gone off to work

You'll walk up and knock on the door

That's all brother, there ain't no more

Reiterating the theme of facing inevitable consequences despite attempts to escape them.

Run on for a long time

You better run on for a long time

God Almighty's gonna cut you down

Rephrasing the warning about facing divine judgment for specific types of individuals.

Gonna tell that long-tongued liar

Tell the rambler, gambler, back-biter

God Almighty's gonna cut him down

Closing with a repetition of the need to "run on" despite the inevitability of facing divine consequences.

Amen

Amen

Amen

You better run on for a long time

Run on for a long time