♫ Eve of Destruction – Over and Over and Over Again My Friend ♫

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Just like John Lennon’s Imagine that I played for the umpteenth time earlier this week, this song is timeless.  It was appropriate when it was first released in 1965, and it is apropos of the situation over the past two days.  This was the only song I could think of to play tonight.  Sigh.

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

30 thoughts on “♫ Eve of Destruction – Over and Over and Over Again My Friend ♫”

  1. This song especially poignant, like many 60’s protest songs were so powerful and relevant they’re transgenerational. I’m not surprised if this song gets radio play these days b/c the theme is timely.
    RATM is a good 90’s band heavy on politics, exposing corp & gov’t corruption, war, police brutality and
    many atrocities. The time has come they feel the need to call out the establishment, reuniting to perform
    live once again. I’m see a huge resurgence as the younger generation awaken to these classic gems.
    Great share as always!

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    • Thank you! Yes, there are some songs that are just timeless … this one, Lennon’s “Imagine”, Wonder/McCartney’s “Ebony and Ivory” … and the list goes on. Seems we never learn and have to keep being reminded, eh?

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Jill, this is a great 60’s protest song. When you hear it, you go back in time. Along with Arlo’s “Alice’s Restaurant,” it makes a statement. Thanks for the memories. Keith

    Liked by 3 people

  4. I loved this song in 1965 and I love it now. A none too subtle warning of what we’re doing to ourselves that no-one seems to heed. We’re going to reach the point of no return unless someone in power start listening soon and starts to broker a permanent peace within the world instead of purposely engineering a reason for war to deflect from problems faced at home. Body bags are a very unwelcome deflection to the parents of the boys killed before their time.
    Cwtch

    Liked by 3 people

      • It was politically charged in a humorous setting. Plus, I just loved William Katts. He was so cute. As a teen I was part of the push for POW release of the mid 70’s. As long as humans walk this world, I can hardly see there being absolute resolution. We had a semblance of peace for such a long time, people forgot about the real threat to that peace and what it truly takes to maintain calm.

        Liked by 1 person

        • Sigh. Yes, peace is one of those elusive concepts. As long as our own country is not at war and things are relatively stable, we humans are quite capable of tuning out the rest of the world. All my life, since around age 4, I have been a political creature hoping that mankind would figure out his role in the greater world and that eventually we would see Peace on Earth. Today I am not so sure.

          Liked by 1 person

          • I grew up watching The Waltons and Mash and witnessed as a teen the effects of the cold war before the Iron Curtain came down. I was always aware of the realities of war. I had uncles in WW2 and my Dad and two other uncles served in the Navy between Korean conflict and Nam. I did not live in a bubble. 😕

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      • Hello Jill. I do not rule out world peace yet. But it wont happen in our life times. It will only happen when mankind out grows its instinctual petty nature and need for dominance and superiority. Peace on earth will only come when everyone has and there are no have not’s anymore. Everyone will need to have food security, housing, medical treatment, equality, and so on. When people no longer feel desperate for what someone else may have, they wont need to fight them for it, to take it by force. If our race is still here in a 100 or 130 years we may see this future. Or if the habitat is destroyed as we are doing now, we will see just the reverse, a dystopian future where the haves jealousy and violently oppress others to keep what they have for themselves. Hugs

        Liked by 1 person

        • Thing is, though, that with the things we are doing to our environment, this planet is unlikely to sustain life long enough for all of that to come about. Most days, while I haven’t exactly given up hope yet, I think the human species is on the path to extinction. The thing that makes me saddest about that is that at the same time, we are bringing about the extinction of nearly every other species on earth … all of which would have survived and thrived, had it not been for mankind. Sigh. Hugs!

          Liked by 1 person

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