Barry mcguire's song "eve of destruction" was described as polarizing the nation: some americans were sympathetic to the song's message, while others thinking it was "un-american" & "communist." why?

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Carley Copeland

21 May, 23:28

Barry mcguire's song "eve of destruction" was described as polarizing the nation: some americans were sympathetic to the song's message, while others thinking it was "un-american" & "communist." why?

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Valerie Hines · Answer 1

The song "Eve of Destruction" made a comparison between what was happening in communist China and what was happening in America.

The protest song, written by P. F. Sloan in 1964, was recorded by Barry McGuire in 1965. It included this line: "Think of all the hate there is in Red China! Then take a look around to Selma, Alabama!" The message of the song was one that called for peace instead of violence in the world in general, but some American radio stations banned it from their playlists because they thought it sympathetic to communism while America was fighting communism in Vietnam. As an added item of interest, McGuire, who had become a born-again Christian, released the song on a Christian contemporary music album, Lighten Up. He saw the song as a moral call to work for peace.