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“Eve of Destruction” – Barry McGuire
The eastern world it is exploding
Violence flarin’, bullets loadin’
You’re old enough to kill but not for votin’
You don’t believe in war but whats 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 tryin’ to say
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
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 coagulating
I’m sitting 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
You may leave here for four days in space
But when you return it’s the same old place
The pounding 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 tell me
Over and over and over and over again my friend
You don’t believe
We’re on the eve of destruction
Mmm, no, no, you don’t believe
We’re on the eve of destruction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfZVu0alU0I
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eve_of_Destruction_(song)
http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=799
Group members should listen to the song and read the lyrics before answering each of the following questions on looseleaf:
- What type of person would listen to and enjoy this song in 1965? Would they most likely be a young child, teenager, or adult? Would they be rich or poor, urban or rural, male or female?
- How is this song different from “Like a Rolling Stone?” Why would Bob Dylan’s song shock (and either excite or offend) the listener of our group’s song?
- What would “Like a Rolling Stone” mean to our group’s listener?
- Brainstorm a list of current songs with important social messages. Do all people who hear the songs react the same way? What are some of the different interpretations listeners could apply to each song?
Group members will create a PowerPoint to present to the class containing the following slides
Slide 1 – Song title, song author, and performer (may be the same), link to song to play for class
Slide 2 – 2-3 sentences on what the song is about
Slide 3&4 – Song Trivia – Historical background/images
Slide 4 – Images/Symbols that represent the song to the group
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