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"Eve of Destruction" is a protest song by Barry McGuire recorded the track in July 1965. It was released by Dunhill Records and was an instant hit reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in September of that year.
In addition there is Eve of Destruction the debut studio album released by the same American folk music singer-songwriter Barry McGuire, released in 1965. The album features McGuire's previousy mentioned signature song "Eve of Destruction", written by P.F. Sloan, who also wrote many other songs on the album.

Barry McGuire's "Eve of Destruction" was released in July 1965, with specific dates ranging from July 19th to 26th, depending on the source. The song was recorded between July 12th and 15th.

July 1965: The single was officially released in July, around the middle of the month.
July 12th-15th: The song was recorded during this period.
July 19th-21st or July 26th: A debate might be detectable regarding the official release.
August 21st 1965: "Eve Of Destruction" is released according to other sources.

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.

Barry McGuire : Eve of Destruction (1965)
STEREO / REMASTERED (Studio video)

Barry McGuire : Eve Of Destruction (2013)
HISTORIC CONTEXT VIDEO

Barry McGuire : Eve Of Destruction (2018)
STUDIO QUALITY AUDIO

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'

But you tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend
How you don't believe
We're on the eve of destruction

Don't you understand what I'm trying to say
Can't you feel the fears I'm feeling 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

And you tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend
How 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
How you don't believe
We're on the eve of destruction

And 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

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

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: P. F. Sloan

Illustration: Free Country Oldies / Free Oldies Music Portal