Question about the song Abraham, Martin, and John

[ashling]

I was just listening to this as it came up on my FB feed.

When I wiped my eyes, I thought I remembered something.


Tell me I am not crazy, but if memory serves, there were two iterations of this song

-Disclaimer: The above choices are not necessarily mutually exclusive -

I seem to remember that this song came out just prior to Bobby's murder and that the verses about him were added in response to that tragedy.

Does anybody else have that recollection. I can't find anything which agrees with me ...

not that that's never happened before (in fact, its kind of a thing.)

[Ptah]

1. It was written in response to the assassination of King and that of Robert Kennedy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham,_Martin_and_John

"Abraham, Martin and John" is a 1968 song written by Dick Holler and first recorded by Dion. It is 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. It was written in response to the assassination of King and that of Robert Kennedy in April and June 1968, respectively.

[ashling]

3. Thanks

I can't find anything that agrees with me. I looked at this, but it neither confirms nor denies my memory.

[hlthe2b]

2. there is a wiki page for this song... perhaps it will answer your questions...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham,_Martin_and_John

[malthaussen]

4. I always thought the part about Bobby sounded like an afterthought...

... but that could easily have been the intention. Or, he could have started writing the song shortly after Martin was killed, but not finished it before RFK was killed. I tend to think, though, that it is by intent: the pre-Bobby phrases expressing a hope that things will change, and then wham, RFK gets shot, thus ending on a "oh, no, more of the same" note. Very effective. in any case.

-- Mal