Eve of Destruction

"Eve of Destruction" is a protest song written by P. F. Sloan in mid-1965. Several artists have recorded it, but the most popular recording was by Barry McGuire. The song references social issues of its period, including the Vietnam War, the draft (conscription), the threat of nuclear war, the Civil Rights Movement, turmoil in the Middle East, and the American space program. The American media helped popularize the song by using it as an example of everything that was wrong with the youth of that time. Due to its controversial lyrics, some American radio stations, "claiming it was an aid to the enemy in Vietnam", banned the song. It was also banned by some British radio stations. Background The song was offered to the Byrds as a Dylanesque potential single, but they rejected it. The Turtles, another L.A. group, recorded a version instead. The Turtles version was issued as a track on their October 1965 debut album It Ain't Me Babe, shortly after McGuire's version was cut and released in July 1965. The Turtles version was later released as a single in 1970 and hit #100 on the Billboard Hot 100.