Topic: Barry McGuire - Eve of Destruction

[Dunrobin]

[youtube=425,350]39ESOKkU1ho[/youtube]

Barry McGuire performing the classic folk rock ballad, "Eve of Destruction," on Hullabaloo in 1965.  Sadly, it seems as appropriate today as it did back then.

I thought of the chorus from this song tonight while watching V for Vendetta again tongiht (for the sixth time in two weeks.  It's that good!)

Anyway, I dug this up and posted in on youtube.  Here's the lyrics for you youngsters that don't remember this stuff:

Eve Of Destruction
By Barry McGuire, 1965

The eastern world it tis explodin',
violence flarin', bullets loadin',
you're old enough to kill but not for votin',
you don't believe in war, what's that gun you're totin',
and even the Jordan river has bodies floatin',
but you tell me over and over and over again my friend,
ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.

Don't you understand, what I'm trying to say?
Can't you see the fear that I'm feeling today?
If the button is pushed, there's no running away,
There'll be noone to save with the world in a grave,
take a look around you, boy, it's bound to scare you, boy,
but you tell me over and over and over again my friend,
ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.

Yeah, my blood's so mad, feels like coagulatin',
I'm sittin' here, just contemplatin',
I can't twist the truth, it knows no regulation,
handful of Senators don't pass legislation,
and marches alone can't bring integration,
when human respect is disintegratin',
this whole crazy world is just too frustratin',
and you tell me over and over and over again my friend,
ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.

Think of all the hate there is in Red China!
Tehn take a look around to Selma, Alabama!
Ah, you may leave here, for four days in space,
but when you return, it's the same old place,
the poundin' of the drums, the pride and disgrace,
you can bury your dead, but don't leave a trace,
hate your next-door-neighbour, but don't forget to say grace,
and you tell me over and over and over and over again my friend,
ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.

[Pilsner Panther]

I never heard this song before, probably because I was barely out of diapers in 1965. It still does resonate, though. The button didn't get pushed in the 60's (and it's only the Cold War and integration references that date the lyrics), but between Iran, Pakistan, and Israel all being nuke-happy, don't think that it's still not a possibility!

 

http://www.metimes.com/articles/normal.php?StoryID=20060824-063832-5808r

[Dunrobin]

The line that dated it for me was "you're old enough to kill but not for votin'," since I turned 18 just a year or two after 18 year olds got the vote in the early 70's.  Change the word to "drinkin'" and it would make the same point today, though.

Sorry, kids, but it looks like my generation didn't do a bit of fucking good at changing things for the better.  We had our chance, but we blew it, just as our fathers did, and things have just got progressively worse.  I hope to God you guys get it right this time.

Just say NO to "Government"!

[Giff me dat fill-em!]

This is the first tune I learned to play on my six-string ... and I still remember the words (without your help with lyrics, thank you)

It seems like Barry was very worried about nuclear destruction by the tone of the lyrics ... hhmm
It seems like Barry was very worried about social integration by the tone of the lyrics ... hhmm
It seems like Barry was frustrated with the current political structure by the tone of the lyrics ... hhmm
It seems like Barry was shocked by race riots in Selma, Alabama (and maybe, if he could see into the future, Watts, California) by the tone of the lyrics ... hhmm

A very nice tune, and I'm glad Dunrobin found it and brought it back to my memory - bravo!