Abraham Martin & John
Smokey Robinson and The Miracles Lyrics


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Anybody here seen my old friend Abraham?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
He freed lotta people but it seems the good they die young
You know I just looked around and he's gone

Anybody here seen my old friend John?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
He freed lotta people but it seems the good they die young
I just looked around and he's gone

Anybody here seen my old friend Martin?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
He freed lotta people but it seems the good they die young
I just looked around and he's gone

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

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

Overall Meaning

The song "Abraham, Martin and John" by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles is a tribute to four influential figures in American history - Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, and Robert Kennedy. The song expresses the loss and nostalgia felt for these leaders who fought for social justice and civil rights, but who were all tragically assassinated. The lyrics ask if anyone has seen these leaders who have passed away and questions where they have gone. The song also acknowledges the legacies of these figures and the impact they had on people who believed in their message of equality and justice.


Line by Line Meaning

Anybody here seen my old friend Abraham?
Asking everyone about Abraham's whereabouts, who is a symbol of a great person who helped a lot of people.


Can you tell me where he's gone?
Wishing to know the current location of Abraham as it is unknown.


He freed lotta people but it seems the good they die young
Although Abraham did many good things, he, along with other great people like him, passed away early in their lives.


You know I just looked around and he's gone
Feeling the absence of Abraham and realizing that he is no longer present among us.


Didn't you love the things that they stood for?
Remembering the principles and ideas that Abraham and other great people stood for and asking if anyone else appreciated them.


Didn't they try to find some good for you and me?
Enquiring if people still remember the efforts of these individuals to find something beneficial for everyone.


And we'll be free
Expressing hope that everyone will someday become free from all kinds of oppression and inequality.


Some day soon, it's gonna be one day
Anticipating that one day, in the not-too-distant future, this dream of freedom and equality will become a reality.


Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Asking if people have any information about Bobby's current location, who is a symbolical character representing one of the great people who died early.


I thought I saw him walkin' up over the hill
Visualizing Bobby walking up over a hill, and realizing that it was just a thought and not a reality.


With Abraham, Martin, and John
Imagining Bobby walking alongside Abraham, Martin, and John, who were also great people that died young, epitomizing the fight for justice and freedom.




Lyrics © STONEHENGE MUSIC
Written by: RICHARD HOLLER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@bennyadler5882

Pete, Ronnie and (particularly) Big Bobby never get enough credit for those immense vocal/performing talents, among co-writing abilities.

@that70sgirl90

A Phenomenal voice, Fantastic harmony, and those Mesmorizing eyes of his 👀
Happy Monday... thank you for sharing! 🎄

@ronrice1931

Fantastic. I had never heard them cover this song, that is some impressive tight harmony work for sure. I just love his voice.

@michaelrochester48

It was a top 20 hit for them, it was very popular

@ronrice1931

@@michaelrochester48 I dimly remember it now. I remember Dion's version very clearly. Evidently Marvin Gaye also covered it as a single in the UK.

@davidholler1

Top 30. Marvin's UK release was Top 10.@@ronrice1931

@Playbyplaymedia

From left to right: Warren "Pete" Moore, William "Smokey" Robinson, Bobby Rogers, Ronnie White.

@DavidBuehlerPhD

In 1968, I was teaching 6th Grade Science in Katonah, NY, and brought my 45 rpm by Dion to school and taught this song causing a great discussion about the purpose of life, death, and mysteries beyond these. Of course I was just about to get married, then drafted to go to Vietnam. (I ended up becoming a Lutheran pastor and chaplain.)

@tj921able

This was excellent. I feel as though I will cry every time I hear this song. It is very poignant. Thank you for sharing this.

@sharondavis3535

I do believe this is the moment I fell forever in love with this man ❤

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