19 March 2023

American singer-songwriter Barry McGuire scored a big hit with the apocalyptic
pop song Eve Of Destruction in 1965. A goosebump cracker written by P. F. Sloan
that, unfortunately, is dangerously relevant once more (it actually was like forever).

The Covid-19 pandemic, the climate change disaster, the frightening rise of the far-right (again), the Ukraine war, Israel still attacking Palestina horribly. The alarm list goes on and on, and what will happen in the US when former President Trump will be arrested next week after calling his fanatic fans to protest and take their nation back when he actually risks going to jail. A repetition of the January 6, 2022 riot? I’m not a pessimist but pandemonium is in the air.

I discovered a cover of this song by the late great New York Doll Johny Thunders.
It was part of his 1985 solo LP Hurt Me. It’s a chilling, stripped-to-the-bone version.

.
“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”

Original

Johnny Thunders: Bio – Discography

(Image on top: Cover of CD/DVD ‘Madrid Memory’)