Abraham Martin And John Analysis

Music Presentation
Abraham, Martin, and John

“I need a hit song!” It was that plea, uttered by Dion DiMucci, which prompted Dick Holler to write Abraham, Martin, and John, a song for Dion to perform. Dion was a recovering heroin addict and he desperately needed a hit song to reestablish himself in the music business. Abraham, Martin, and John did just that, reaching number four on the Top 100 hit song list.
Abraham, Martin, and John is an inspirational song about the assassinations of Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Robert “Bobby” Kennedy, all icons of social change protesting peacefully for equality and civil rights. Holler wrote Abraham, Martin, and John in 1968 in response to the assassinations of Dr.

Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy, both which happened in the same year, only months apart. The assassinations shocked Americans, they were still reeling from the murder of John F. Kennedy less than five years prior, but Abraham, Martin, and John brought peace to people. Initially the song shocked Americans, but then they realized the song was a tribute to the fallen heroes, men who were indefatigable in their quest of equality in the land of opportunity.
Dion originally hated the song, but after listening to it more and more he came to appreciate the simple lyrics that said so much. He told one interviewer, “I realized that what these four guys had in common was a dream... It was like they had the courage to believe that a state of love really can exist.” He came to understand the power in the song.
Holler and Dion collaborated to engineer Abraham, Martin, and John to be moving and emotional.

The lyrics sung slowly, the instruments aided by the mournful violin and harp, all gave the song a haunting quality. Its lyrics, while simple, hold depth. The first three verses are repetitive, the first verse talks about Abraham Lincoln, the second refers to John F. Kennedy and the third is about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The verses explain how one day the men were no longer around because they were shot and killed. It then says how he freed a lot of people, that is referring to the fact that each man was an advocate for civil rights. Finally, it sums up the verse explaining how the good die young and each man died suddenly. The next, fourth verse, changes a bit. It states, how each man stood for a valuable cause and saw the good in people. it also states hope that their dream of equality will one day be achieved. Finally the fifth and final verse starts similar to the first three remembering Bobby Kennedy. It states, how he died for his beliefs and in doing so, joined the men who had done the same before him, including his older brother, John Kennedy. It was not a shock when the song did so well on the music charts. While rarely heard on the radio in the twenty-first century, in the decade following its release Abraham, Martin, and John was constantly playing. Numerous bands have done covers of the song as well, including a popular version by Whitney Houston.
Abraham, Martin, and John is a song paying tribute to Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Bobby Kennedy; all men lost their lives when they would not back down from their effort to bring forth social change, giving all Americans equality and justice. This song helps their legacy live on

forever.