♫ Abraham, Martin and John ♫

Posted on by under music, Racism & Bigotry, Social commentary

Today, in a comment, dear friend Roger sent me this song, and as I listened, something … clicked.  I felt tears welling, wanted to share this beautiful moment.  I realize this is one I have played here before, this is the same version musically, but a slightly different video and a very moving one, I think.  Thank you, Roger, for reminding me of this song … a tribute to some truly great men who helped people, who cared about the nation and its people.

A tribute to the memory of four assassinated Americans, all icons of social change: Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, and Robert F. Kennedy.  This song was written in response to the assassination of King and that of Robert Kennedy in April and June 1968, respectively.  More than 50 years … can it really have been so long ago?  I remember it … truly as if it were just a few weeks ago.  As I listen to this song, I cannot help but choke … remembering … the hope these men brought us … how I wish they were here today … 😢

The original version was recorded by Dion Francis DiMucci, better known simply as Dion.  Although the song has been recorded by many of my favourites such as Ray Charles, Kenny Rogers, the Brothers Four, Marvin Gaye, Bob Dylan, Whitney Houston, and Smokey Robinson, to name a few, the Dion version remains my favourite.  And so, I bring you, in honour of four truly great men whose lives, because they were great, because they worked tirelessly for equality for all, were cut far too short …

Abraham, Martin And John
Dion DiMucci

Has anybody here seen my old friend Abraham,
Can you tell me where he’s gone?
He freed a lotta people, but it seems the good die young
But I just looked around and he’s gone.

Has anybody here seen my old friend John,
Can you tell me where he’s gone?
He freed a lotta people, but it seems the good die young
But I just looked around and he’s gone.

Has anybody here seen my old friend Martin,
Can you tell me where he’s gone?
He freed a lotta people, but it seems the good die young
But I just looked around and he’s gone.

Didn’t you love the things they stood for?
Didn’t they try to find some good for you and me?
And we’ll be free,
Someday soon it’s gonna be one day.

Has anybody here seen my old friend Bobby,
Can you tell me where he’s gone?
I thought I saw him walkin’ up over the hill
With Abraham, Martin and John.

Songwriters: Richard Holler
Abraham, Martin And John lyrics © Regent Music Corporation, Stonehenge Music

29 thoughts on “♫ Abraham, Martin and John ♫”

    • It is definitely a moving song, one that has never, and likely never will, lose its relevance. Yes, the weekend mass shootings … were horrific and not likely to be the last. Some are even egging them on. Sigh. Sadly, we didn’t get to see the eclipse, for the rain and clouds decided we shouldn’t. Love ‘n hugs, dear friend!

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        • It’s already unseasonably hot here, and while I’ve looked forward to spring/summer, now I’m not so sure I’m ready for what’s coming!

          Yes, it’s very hard … it seems there is no longer a middle ground in this country, no room for compromise. The blame game is simply ludicrous … if lightning struck someone’s home, the Republicans would blame it on Biden somehow! Sigh. Lots of sleepless nights these days. But … we keep on fighting, right? Hugs to you, my friend!

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  2. What I would like people to see in this song is that most of the assassinations of great people in the world, those taken away from us, were people fighting for the good of all people. I do not have in front of me a list of all the assassinated or murdered icons of the world, but off the top of my head I can add at least two more names to this list: Mahatma Gandhi in India and Stephen Bantu Biko in South Africa. (Lately there have been so many assassinations of lesser known people, like Jamal Khashoggi and the very recent Shireen Abu Akleh, people who may not have been leaders but were freedom fighters all the same. (If you know a name you believe should be on this list, please add it below.) I will add Malcolm X right now.
    The point is, people don’t generally waste bullets on bullies and dictators. No one shot Richard Nixon, Donald Trump, or Vladimir Putin (yet!). That is because most violence on this scale is committed by those who fear change, people or organizations that are fighting only for themselves, people who do not care about the good of others. FEAR OF CHANGE seems to be a very real thing in our world.

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  5. Pingback: ABRAHAM, MARTIN AND JOHN. |jilldennison.com | Ramblings of an Occupy Liberal

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