Oh Abraham
Andy Stochansky Lyrics
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If not the money
I could use the luck
And if it's face down
I turn it over
Head for Wood Avenue
Between Inman and New Dover
Back in my home town
Gas is cheaper where I'm from
But the driving's not so good
People go and stay where they should not
And they don't do it like I would
Work is not the same as before
More soft wear hands in the hardware store
Oh Abraham look at all the money now
Oh Abraham good night
It's your party but
I'll cry if I want to
I wouldn't care how much they have
If they would only do what's right
I was born by a Kerouac stream
Under Eisenhower skies
They saw freedom as a big idea
Now it was right before my eyes
They said Jack helped to build the Pentagon
And Ike built this interstate that we are off and on
Oh Abraham was it all about the money then
Oh Abraham good night
It's your party but
I'll cry if I want to
All moneyed up and charmed with might
So we are right, we're always right
We're right, they're wrong
Let them get their own song
Let them get their own song
I see a penny and I pick it up
99 more and I have a buck
Abe you were born in old Kentuck'
But we still miss you here
The song "Oh Abraham" by Andy Stochansky is a reflective piece of music that addresses topics of luck, money, and the concept of right and wrong. The lyrics begin by describing the act of finding a penny and picking it up, hoping for good luck. Stochansky then sings about how gas is cheaper in his hometown, but the driving is not the best, alluding to the idea that things are not always what they seem. He also touches upon the idea that people tend to stay where they are supposed to, and they don't always do things the way he would.
In the chorus, Stochansky addresses Abraham, asking him to look at all the money now but stating that he doesn't care how much others have, as long as they do what's right. Stochansky seems to be questioning whether Abraham, who is often associated with wealth, truly thought that money was the most important thing. In the second verse, Stochansky references the building of the Pentagon and the interstate, which were significant government projects involving the use of money, power, and control.
Overall, the song's message seems to be about the balance between money and morality, and how being right is not just about being wealthy and powerful. Stochansky seems to be questioning the role of money in our society and whether having more money makes one happier or more moral.
Line by Line Meaning
I see a penny and I pick it up
I have faith in the small things in life and take nothing for granted.
If not the money
If I don't get lucky and find money on the street...
I could use the luck
...it's okay, I can use good luck for other things.
And if it's face down
Sometimes things don't look too good at first glance...
I turn it over
...but with a little effort, I can turn them around.
Head for Wood Avenue
I'm headed to Wood Avenue...
Between Inman and New Dover
...right between Inman and New Dover...
Back in my home town
...this is my hometown.
Gas is cheaper where I'm from
Living here is more affordable.
But the driving's not so good
The roads don't always get me where I need to go efficiently.
People go and stay where they should not
People sometimes stick around in places they shouldn't.
And they don't do it like I would
They do things differently, and that's okay.
Work is not the same as before
The workplace has changed over time.
More soft wear hands in the hardware store
More people with computer skills are working in manual labor jobs.
Oh Abraham look at all the money now
Abraham, look at the wealth we've accumulated.
Oh Abraham good night
Goodbye, Abraham.
It's your party but
Although this is your party...
I'll cry if I want to
...I'll show my emotions as I see fit.
I wouldn't care how much they have
The amount of wealth people have doesn't matter to me.
If they would only do what's right
I care more about people doing the right thing than their wealth.
I was born by a Kerouac stream
I come from a place of free-thinkers and dreamers.
Under Eisenhower skies
Growing up during the time of President Eisenhower...
They saw freedom as a big idea
...people saw freedom as a grand idea.
Now it was right before my eyes
Yet now freedom is something we take for granted.
They said Jack helped to build the Pentagon
They say that Jack Kerouac contributed to the creation of the Pentagon.
And Ike built this interstate that we are off and on
President Eisenhower built the interstate system that we use today.
Oh Abraham was it all about the money then
Abraham, was it all about wealth back then?
Oh Abraham good night
Goodbye, Abraham.
It's your party but
Although this is your party...
I'll cry if I want to
...I'll express myself as I see fit.
All moneyed up and charmed with might
Some people have gained a lot of wealth and power.
So we are right, we're always right
We believe we are always correct.
We're right, they're wrong
We believe others are wrong when they disagree with us.
Let them get their own song
Let others have their own ideas and express themselves.
Let them get their own song
Let others have their own ideas and express themselves.
I see a penny and I pick it up
I have faith in the power of small things in life.
99 more and I have a buck
I know the importance of patience and small steps.
Abe you were born in old Kentuck'
Abraham Lincoln, you were born in Kentucky.
But we still miss you here
You are still missed, even though you are no longer here.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Peter Gaboury
Another gem ! Wow this version is really good !
Lucas Tomolonis
This is absolutely the best version of this song in existence!
Abraham Ocean
Absolutely agree.... :)
Peter Gaboury
Many thanks Abraham for posting!