ABRAHAM MARTIN AND JOHN
The Miracles Lyrics

Anybody here seen my old friend Abraham?
The singer is asking if anyone knows the whereabouts of Abraham, who was once his friend.

Can you tell me where he's gone?
The singer is requesting information about where Abraham is.

Oh, he freed a lot of people but the good they die young
The singer is referencing Abraham's selflessness in freeing many people, but laments that often the virtuous people die young.

I just looked around and he's gone, gone
The artist reflects that he no longer sees Abraham around.

Anybody here seen my old friend John?
The artist poses the same question as before, but this time about his old friend John.

He freed lotta people but the good they die young
John also liberated many people, but similarly, the singer is acknowledging that good people don't always live long lives.

I just looked around and he's gone, gone, gone (gone), gone
The singer again notes that John is no longer around.

Anybody here seen my old friend Martin?
The artist's inquiry now turns to his friend Martin.

Can you tell me where he's gone?
The artist is looking for information about Martin's whereabouts.

He freed some people but the good they die young
Like Abraham and John, Martin also freed some people, but the artist acknowledges that good people often have short lives.

I just looked around and he's gone, gone, gone, gone
The singer notes the absence of Martin.

Didn't you love the things that they stood for?
The artist is asking whether the listener admired the values that Abraham, Martin, and John upheld.

Didn't they try to find some good for you and me (for you and me)?
The singer is questioning whether the three men made efforts to improve society for the benefit of all people.

And we'll be free
The singer asserts that liberation is possible.

Some day soon, it's gonna be one day
The singer is hopeful that someday in the near future, freedom will be realized.

Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
The artist is once again asking about the whereabouts of a friend.

Can you tell me, can you tell me me where he's gone?
The artist is requesting information about Bobby's location.

I thought I saw him walkin' way over the hill
The singer thinks he spotted Bobby walking over the distant hill.

With Abraham, Martin, and John (Abraham, Martin and John, oh)
The singer imagines Bobby walking alongside the three previously mentioned men.

(Abraham, Martin and John) I thought I saw him walking
The artist repeats his earlier thought of seeing Bobby walking alongside the other three men.

(Abraham, Martin and John) thought I heard them talking
The artist believes he heard the group conversing.

(Abraham, Martin and John) about freeing the people
The artist speculates that the group was discussing the liberation of people.

(Abraham, Martin, John) how to free the people
The singer posits that the men were discussing strategies for liberation.

(Abraham, Martin and John) which ones to tell
The artist surmises that the group was trying to determine which people to inform of liberation efforts.

(Abraham, Martin and John) and now they're all gone, gone, gone
The singer laments that the three men he admired are all no longer alive.

Hallelujah
The singer expresses an exultant sentiment.