It's Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, so we thought this might make an appropriate posting for the day.
In 2016, Neil Young released the album Peace Trail with a song titled "My Pledge", which contains some enigmatic lyrics.
In the song "My Pledge", Neil sings about the alienating side effects of modernization, including cell phones and the monetization of Jimi Hendrix's music. The song also references Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr and John Kennedy.
"Dressed in white like a nightingale
Her name was Florence, Florence of the land
I knew I'd seen her somewhere
But she was busy with him gone
She came with three different brothers
Abraham, Martin & John
I heard a song about that once
And I never knew what it meant"
The above lyrics are followed by another line about 3 rock stars who died in a plane crash. The lyrics -- of course -- refer to Buddy Holly, Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens -- The Father, Son and Holy Ghost or The American Pie.
Back to Abraham, Martin & John.
Frame from video for "My Pledge" - Director: David Braun
Neil Young
These lyrics refer to a song by Dion from 1968 titled "Abraham, Martin and John".
"Abraham, Martin and John" is a 1968 song written by Dick Holler and first recorded by "Dion" DiMucci. It is a tribute to the memory of four assassinated Americans, all icons of social change, namely Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy. It was written in response to the assassinations of King and the younger Kennedy in April and June 1968.
The struggle continues and the dream never dies. "But I do see what I see, And I want to do my duty." #WT1sWBWO "That's my pledge, judge."
Dion - "Abraham, Martin and John" - 45 RPM Single Picture Sleeve, 1968
Dion sing “Abraham, Martin and John” on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in 1968
“Has anybody here, seen my old friend Abraham?
Can you tell me where he’s gone?
He freed a lot of people, but it seems the good, they die young
You know 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.”
"Abraham, Martin & John" by Harry Bellafonte"Abraham, Martin & John" by Dion
The Best Of Dion
℗ 1994 Capitol Records LLC
The Best Of Dion
℗ 1994 Capitol Records LLC
"Abraham, Martin & John" by Ray Charles
Dion solo performing "Abraham, Martin & John" @ Joe's Pub (2.20.11)
"Abraham, Martin & John" by Moms Mabley
Neil Young - Peace Trail
More on Meta Reviews: Neil Young's "Peace Trail".
Peace Trail isn't a record with POTR...it's Neil, Jim Keltner, and Paul Bushnell on bass and it was released as a solo record...
ReplyDeleteThanks for correction Jonathan. right.
ReplyDeleteUpdated w/ more on Dion. A very interesting backstory on the all but forgotten Dion.
btw, as always, if anyone ever sees any errors, pls never hesitate to comment here or contact us directly: thrasher ATSIGN ThrashersWheat.org
I listened to the Peace Trail album a couple of weeks ago. I'm surprised it doesn't get more praise from Neil fans, it's a very strong album that still holds up a few years after release.
ReplyDeleteI think Peace Trail is far and away Neil's best work since Psychedelic Pill, and nothing else really comes close.
Other than the title track, which if it weren't for the Auto-Tune would be a classic, the Peace Trail album fell flat for me.
ReplyDeleteNot even Neil Young can make Auto-Tune sound appealing...sigh