♫ Eve of Destruction – Still Apropos ♫

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I had a really nice song … a happy song … ready for tonight, but the events of the day sent me plummeting into a deep, dark place, and this song seemed more appropriate tonight.  I know that I have played it a few times before, and … unless I miss my guess … I will play it a few times in the future.  It is a song that, unfortunately, never seems to become irrelevant.

Released in 1965, this song was an anti-government protest against racism, hypocrisy and injustice at a volatile time in American history.  Sound familiar?  I’m really surprised that this song hasn’t made a huge comeback in the past year or so, for it is every bit as apropos today as it was 50+ years ago.  In some ways, the issues today are different, but in other ways … not so much.  Today, instead of Vietnam we have climate change and a clown in the Oval Office, Brexit and election manipulation.  Racism is still alive and well, but today we have no Martin Luther King.  Hypocrisy?  Oh yeah, in spades, my friends.  And Injustice is the name of the game here and around the world.  I could name 100 reasons that this song is as relevant today as it was then. Different faces, same ol’ song. 😢

Eve of Destruction
Barry McGuire

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’,
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?
And can’t you feel the fears I’m feeling today?
If the button is pushed, there’s no running 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,
And 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!
Then take a look around to Selma, Alabama!
Ah, you may leave here, for four days in space,
But when your 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,
And you 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.

Songwriters: P. F. Sloan
Eve of Destruction lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management

24 thoughts on “♫ Eve of Destruction – Still Apropos ♫”

    • Each generation has its own battles, I suppose, but somehow today’s troubles seem so much more … potentially fatal for the world. Sigh. Yes, I hope John is right, too! I’m not necessarily pessimistic, but more … pragmatic. We have a lot of hurdles to jump in the next 13.5 months.

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  3. I’m glad Scottie’s choice gave you a laugh and scared the blues away. This record should be played on the hour every hour until the message penetrates and they get angry enough to act.. It’s happening there but it all affects the whole World. I’ve sent you to sign an appeal to help save Bear’s Ears National Monument which Trump reduced by over 80% taking over a million acres of historical artefacts away. Lord on knows what he’s done to other heritage spaces. Ovr 100 applications to mine there already. I don’t live there and I’m bloody furious. This is not his land to do it to. Barry Maguire was always able to make me growl at the utter stupidity of some people. Nice Choice.
    Cwtch

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    • Yep, Scottie’s suggestion brightened the day, if only for a little while. You are so right, and that’s what so many either don’t understand or simply don’t care about … what he does is affecting the entire globe, not just the U.S.! Sigh. I did get the petition … thank you! He has no regard for the land, the monuments, the wildlife, or the environment … the only thing that matters to Trump and his cronies is money. It makes me furious to see him destroying natural habitats, mountains, forests and the like for the fossil fuel and logging industries. And yet, 40% of this nation are okay with it all. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
      Cwtch

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  4. Again, one of my great favourites from the sixties, Jill. Probably the most useful message that song gives us today is to get angry – not violent, but rip-roaring angry! Angry to get off our collective butts and become agents of change. Thanks, Jill!

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    • You’re so right, John. That’s what rawgod has been saying for a while now … and I think a lot of people are plenty angry … but I just don’t see anyone, myself included, launching any major protests. I think … people are too comfortable in their lives and while they may be angry, they don’t really seem to seriously believe that any of what’s happening will have a direct impact on them. I wish I knew how to light the fire under them.

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        • True, but some do, and I always feel a little bit guilty that I “talk the talk”, but don’t “walk the walk”. And, as far as getting them out to vote … there’s another challenge! I fear that the same thing will happen that happened in 2016 … those democrats whose candidate doesn’t get the nomination will stay home rather than vote, out of pique. Sigh. It’s hard to be optimistic these days, my friend.

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          • If I’m reading the situation correctly, I don’t think Democratic voters will be staying home in 2020 – they know that if they don’t vote, they are, in fact, voting to give Trump four more years.

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              • Jill, I think all of us are worried about an unlikely and certainly unthinkable outcome in 2020, but as Joe Biden pointed out, this election will be a fight for the soul of America. I happen to believe that the majority of Americans are good and decent folks. Amen.

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