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Origins: eve of destruction DigiTrad: EVE OF DESTRUCTION Related threads: 'Eve of Destruction' Barry McGuire (8) Obit: Singer/songwriter P.F. Sloan (1945-2015) (5) Eve of Destruction (14) Lyr Req: Eve of Destruction (P.F. Sloan) (3) |
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Subject: Origins: eve of destruction From: mkebenn Date: 17 Nov 04 - 08:01 AM I was playing some "old" tunes today that I felt still had relevence and I couldn't remember one line of this song, so I went to digitrad to get it. The song was there, but attributed to Barry Maguire. I believe this tune was penned by P.F. Sloan. Mike |
Subject: RE: Origins: eve of destruction From: Banjo-Flower Date: 17 Nov 04 - 08:12 AM It was definately sung by Barry Maguire but whether he wrote is a defferent matter Gerry |
Subject: RE: Origins: eve of destruction From: The Borchester Echo Date: 17 Nov 04 - 09:07 AM Eve of Destruction |
Subject: RE: Origins: eve of destruction From: GUEST,MCP Date: 17 Nov 04 - 09:12 AM And the story of its origin in the author's own words: P.F.Sloan In His Own Words: The Stories Behind The Songs Mick P. F. Sloan : In His Own WordsThe Stories Behind The Songs
This new feature will begin with the descriptions of 2 of his most famous songs, "Eve Of Destruction" and "Secret Agent Man". These were written for a book due to be published in the U.K. in 2000, tentatively called "Stories Behind The Songs". More information about this book will be posted here - if the other stories are of the same calibre as these, it should be a worthy investment!
Eve Of DestructionThe 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. The lines:
"Think of all the hate there is in Red China then take a look around to Selma Alabama.
And marches alone cannot bring integration when human respect is disintegrating"
are about racial un-harmony issues.
"Hate your next door neighbor and don't forget to say grace",
simple hypocrisy but it made me feel angry.
"You're old enough to kill but not for voting"
was about the injustice of using youth in the army to defend the country but they had no say in its policies. More hypocrisy!
"You don't believe in war so what's that gun you're toting!"
Okay!
"The pounding of the drums the pride and disgrace"
were written in relationship to the powerful Kennedy assassination.
I finished the poem and went into my parents bedroom. My mother was awake and I told her I had written something wonderful. She said, "Shhh, you'll wake your dad." I put a melody to the words and played it for my then writing partner Steve. He listened but I could tell he didn't like it much. He wasn't much interested. The same response followed when I played it for the publishing company people. Their response was stronger. UNPUBLISHABLE! I was told not to write any more songs like that. Quite the contrary to Andrew Loog Oldham's account in his book on ABBA. He stated these were songs for hire!
One last thing. The media frenzy over the song tore me up and seemed to tear the country apart. I was an enemy of the people to some and a hero to others, but I was still only 20 years old and nobody really was looking. I have felt it was a love song and written as a prayer because, to cure an ill you need to know what is sick. In my youthful zeal I hadn't realized that this would be taken as an attack on The System! Examples: The media headlined the song as everything that is wrong with the youth culture. First, show the song is just a hack song to make money and therefore no reason to deal with its questions. Prove the 19-year old writer is a communist dupe. Attack the singer as a parrot for the writers word. The media claimed that the song would frighten little children. I had hoped thru this song to open a dialogue with Congress and the people. The media banned me from all national television shows. Oddly enough they didn't ban Barry. The United States felt under threat. So any positive press on me or Barry was considered un-patriotic. A great deal of madness, as I remember it! I told the press it was a love song. A love song to and for humanity, that's all. It ruined Barry's career as an artist and in a year I would be driven out of the music business too.
I have been asked why do I think the song touched a nerve? Answer: I don't know exactly. It released some major concerns for myself and maybe because it was coming from a genuine concern for the well-being of America and the world. I remember in 1965 the civil rights movement had begun, Vietnam was in the background, the cold war had heated up so drastically that we're just finding out today how close the world came to the brink of a nuclear war. This was in the air, fear and hypocrisy... the unthinkable could be happening. A total annihilation of all life on Earth. Really? "Well, looks like they really did it this time Martha! We better not plant those begonias this spring with all that nuclear fallout and all! Oh, now George don't be so pessimistic! Within a hundred years or so the Nuclear winter will be over and we can replant the corn crop!"
Two questions I have been asked over the years is how I liked the original McGuire record and what did I feel about the "Dawn of Correction" record? Answer: I liked it (the original McGuire record) a lot. I played the lead 6-string acoustic guitar, as well as the harp on the recording.The original session was a 4-song, 3-hour date. I didn't think of it as a pop song. It was a folk song put to a beat. Adding the dimension of a female choir in echo came as a suggestion from the label. That's when I had a hint that the label thought this might be a releasable record.
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Subject: RE: Origins: eve of destruction From: Leadfingers Date: 17 Nov 04 - 09:40 AM Another of My Hobby Horses !! People so often credit a song to whoever they heard sing it with NO regard to who might have written it . As a Professional Song Thief I feel honour bound to credit the writers of the songs I have 'stolen' . |
Subject: RE: Origins: eve of destruction From: open mike Date: 18 Nov 04 - 03:05 AM well i hope a clone will fix this for sloan |
Subject: RE: Origins: eve of destruction From: Mark Cohen Date: 18 Nov 04 - 03:32 AM As a decidedly Amateur Song Writer I thank you, Leadfingers. Aloha, Mark |
Subject: RE: Origins: eve of destruction From: Bat Goddess Date: 18 Nov 04 - 10:09 AM I've got the 45 single somewhere in a box -- along with the "answer" song, "Dawn of Correction." Did a quick search for "Eve of Destruction" and it's amazing how many sites credit Barry MCGuire for writing it instead of P.F. Sloan. Just found this about "Dawn of Correction" - written by Raymond J. Gilmore, John Madara and David White (The Spokesmen) - David White was formerly with Danny & The Juniors - as recorded by The Spokesmen (released September 18, 1965) - entered the Billboard Top 40 the week of October 9, 1965 and stayed for 3 weeks, peaking at #36 the week of October 16, 1965 - answer song to Barry McGuire's "Eve of Destruction" Linn |
Subject: RE: Origins: eve of destruction From: Ron Davies Date: 18 Nov 04 - 09:57 PM Mick-- That article by P.F. Sloan was just fascinating--it's always great to hear those stories behind the songs, especially when the author himself or herself is telling them. Really striking the violent reaction to Eve of Destruction, and then the after-the-fact cynicism that P. F. Sloan had written it to ride the protest wave. Your type of posting is one of the best parts of Mudcat. |
Subject: RE: Origins: eve of destruction From: Mark Cohen Date: 18 Nov 04 - 11:33 PM I agree, Ron. Thanks for finding and posting that, Mick. It's amazing how much bullshit gets passed around for truth, especially since the rise of the internet. I was also floored to find out he also wrote "Secret Agent Man," which is my all-time favorite karaoke song! Well, that and "La Bamba." Not that I've done much karaoke recently... Aloha, Mark |
Subject: RE: Origins: eve of destruction From: Cluin Date: 19 Nov 04 - 04:53 AM I always liked the Turtles' version. |
Subject: RE: Origins: eve of destruction From: GUEST,Dáithí Ó Geanainn Date: 19 Nov 04 - 05:00 AM I remember the B McGuire version..I'd just moved to England at the time, and recall that it was banned by the BBC. Anybody confirm that?(in PreRadio 1 days, where would they have played it?) Did the Pirate stations play it at all? Cheers! D |
Subject: ADDPOP: Dawn of Correction From: John in Brisbane Date: 21 Nov 04 - 05:08 PM DAWN OF CORRECTION Words and music by John Madara, David White, Raymond Gilmore. Recorded by THE SPOKESMEN. Copyright 1965 by Champion Music Corp. & Doable Diamond Music The western world has a common dedication To keep free people from red domination Maybe you can't vote, boy, but man your battle stations Or there'll be no need for votin' in future generations. CHORUS: So over and over again you keep sayin' it's the end But I say you're wrong, we're just on the DAWN OF CORRECTION There are buttons to push in two mighty nations But whose crazy enough to risk annihilation The buttons are there to insure negotiation So don't be afraid boy it's our only salvation. REPEAT CHORUS. Now you tell me that marches won't bring integration But look what it's done for the voter registration Be thankful our country allows demonstrations Instead of condemning make some recommendations I don't understand the cause of your aggravation You mean to tell me boy it's not a better situation. REPEAT CHORUS. You missed all the good in your evaluation ' What about the things that deserve commendation Where there once was no cure there's vaccination Where there once was a desert there's vegetation Self government's replacing colonization What about the Peace Corps. organization Don't forget the work of the United Nations. REPEAT CHORUS. |
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