Eve of Destruction Lyrics
The Eastern world, it is explodin'
Violence flarin', bullets loadin'
You're old enough to kill, but not for votin'
You don't believe in war, but what's that gun you're totin'?
And even the Jordan River has bodies floatin'
[Chorus]
But you tell me over and over and over again, my friend
Ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction
[Verse 2]
Don't you understand what I'm tryin' to say?
And can't you feel the fears I'm feelin' today?
If the button is pushed, there's no runnin' away
There'll be no one to save with the world in a grave
Take a look around you, boy, it's bound to scare you, boy
[Chorus]
And you tell me over and over and over again, my friend
Ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction
[Verse 3]
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
[Verse 4]
Think of all the hate there is in Red China
Then 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 neighbor, but don't forget to say grace
[Chorus]
And tell me over and over and over and over again, my friend
You don't believe we're on the eve of destruction
No, no, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction
About
Written by P.F. Sloan at age 19, when this was released in 1965, the United States had been through nuclear war scares including the Cuban Missile Crisis and had suffered the shocking assassination of President Kennedy and was seeing a continued escalation of the War in Vietnam.
Barry McGuire was part of the folk-rock scene in Southern California in the ‘60s. In the summer of 1965, “Eve of Destruction“ topped the charts in the US & Norway, reached #3 in The Netherlands & UK and was a top 20 hit in Germany & Belgium. It is his only US top 40 hit, earning him the label of one-hit wonder.
The song has been recorded by many artists, but McGuire’s version — the first to be released (with an unpolished vocal!) — remains the most popular.
McGuire himself revisited the track twice in his career. In 1974, he re-recorded the first verse as part of the lead track on his contemporary Christian release Lighten Up. And in 2009, he released “Eve 2012” with modified lyrics.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
Please read the annotations.
P.F. Sloan wrote in his story behind the lyrics: “The song ‘Eve of Destruction’ was written in the early morning hours between midnight and dawn in mid-1964. The song was one of five that were written that evening Three of the five became notable for some reason. The other two were ‘The Sins of A Family (Fall On The Daughter)’, and ‘Take Me For What I’m Worth,’ recorded by The Searchers. I was 19 years old. The most outstanding experience I had in writing this song was hearing an inner voice inside of myself for only the second time. It seemed to have information no one else could’ve had. For example, I was writing down this line in pencil ‘think of all the hate there is in Red Russia.’ This inner voice said ‘No, no it’s Red China!’ I began to argue and wrestle with that until near exhaustion. I thought Red Russia was the most outstanding enemy to freedom in the world, but this inner voice said the Soviet Union will fall before the end of the century and Red China will endure in crimes against humanity well into the new century! This inner voice that is inside of each and every one of us but is drowned out by the roar of our minds! The song contained a number of issues that were unbearable for me at the time. I wrote it as a prayer to God for an answer.
- 1.Eve of Destruction
- 5.Baby Blue
