Barry McGuire (check this out!)

Barry McGuire (born 15 October 1935) is an American singer-songwriter.

McGuire was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and moved to California in early childhood. At age 16 he joined the United States Navy, but was discharged ten months later for being 'under age'.

After working as a commercial fisherman, and then going onto become a journeyman pipe fitter, at age 25 McGuire got a job singing in a bar. In 1961, he released his first single called "The Tree", which was not a hit, and formed a duo with Barry Kane. They both joined the New Christy Minstrels in Spring 1962. In 1963, McGuire along with Randy Sparks (the founder of the New Christy Minstrels) co-wrote the Christys' first and biggest hit single: "Green, Green." He left the Christys in January, 1965, after recording the album, Cowboys and Indians; however, on the 1965 album Chim Chim Cher-ee, he sang only on the title cut.

As a folk rock solo singer in the 1960s, he was best known for his hits "Eve of Destruction" and "Sins of the Family", both written by P.F. Sloan. His other chart successes, "Child of Our Times" was co-written by Steve Barri, and "Cloudy Summer Afternoon (Raindrops)" was penned by Travis Edmonson of 1960's folk-duo, Bud & Travis.

Eve of Destruction


Barry McGuire: "Eve of Destruction"

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 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
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 ya boy, it's bound to scare ya 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 coagulatin'
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 4 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... tell me over and over and over and over again, my friend
You don't believe
We're on the eve
Of destruction
Ah, no no, you don't believe
We're on the eve
of destruction.

Amen...