Sinéad O’Connor announced her retirement in 2003, a year after releasing her sixth studio album, and dropped a compilation of old demos as a farewell offering.
That retirement proved temporary as she released her next studio album just two years later. 2005’s Throw Down Your Arms was O’Connor’s third album of covers. After tackling jazz standards and traditional Irish ballads, she now turned her attention to classic reggae.
The prospect of a reggae covers sends shivers down my spine, with images of UB40 dancing in my head, but O’Connor is not that sort of artist. This is a thoughtful and lovely collection, with O’Connor lending her always-excellent vocals to old-school reggae tracks in the traditional style.
She recorded the album in Kingston, Jamaica, with influential producers Sly & Robbie, who also performed as the rhythm section. The project is steeped in respect and admiration for the social, political, and cultural impact of reggae.
This isn’t an album I would return to, necessarily, because I’m just not a big reggae guy, but it’s a nice addition to O’Connor’s catalog.
Downpressor man, where you gonna run to?
Tell me, downpressor man, where you gonna run to?
Downpressor man, where you gonna run to?
Oh, on that day
[Verse 1]
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, on that day
[Chorus]
Downpressor man, where you gonna run to?
Tell me, downpressor man, where you gonna run to?
Downpressor man, where you gonna run to?
Oh, on that day
[Verse 2]
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, on that day
[Chorus]
Downpressor man, where you gonna run to?
Tell me, Downpressor man, where you gonna run to?
Downpressor man, where you gonna run to?
Oh, on that day
[Verse 3]
And if you make your bed in Hell
I will be there
Make your bed in Hell
I will be there
I say, make your bed in Hell
I will be there
On that day
[Chorus]
Downpressor man, where you gonna run to?
Tell me, Downpressor man, where you gonna run to?
Downpressor man, where you gonna run to?
On that day
[Verse 4]
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
On that day
[Chorus]
Downpressor man, where you gonna run to?
Downpressor man, where you gonna run to?
Downpressor man, where you gonna run to?
On that day
[Outro]
Where you gonna fucking run to?
Downpressor man
Where you gonna fucking run to?
Meet Me In Montauk 
Very interesting what Sinead was up to long after I (and most of the rest of the world) stopped paying attention.