Eve Of Destruction
This song was written by Barry McGuire
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Version 1 is a live recording, performed solo with acoustic guitar during a concert in Northern Ireland, where it was part of a sort of end times medley
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Version 2 is a full studio recording
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Version 3 is a live recording, performed solo with acoustic guitar during a 1990 concert in Hattem, Holland. Larry sings a small part of this song at the end of PeacePollutionRevolution
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lyrics version 1
Under his love I'm convicted but forgiven
Under his love I've somehow passed the test
Although my life gets busy then I start missing him
Somehow I, under his love I've passed the test
Under his love, under his love I've passed the test
Without him I'm a tree without roots
I'm the lonely star of David in Beirut
I can't make it through without him
And I just don't know what to do
Without him I'll never know what's true
I'd be all alone and lost without you
Under your love I'm convicted but forgiven
He's an unidentified flying object
Coming back to take us home
Under your love I'm convicted but forgiven
In the midst of the war
Life was filled with guns and war
And everyone got trampled on the floor
I wish we'd all been ready
Children died, the days grew cold
A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold
I wish we'd all been ready
There's no time to change your mind
The son has come and you've been left behind
Under his love I'm convicted but forgiven
Under his love I've somehow passed the test
Messiah took this world by force
Messiah took this world by force
I could see people dying
I could hear children crying
I could see the cities falling
I could hear the angels calling
Messiah, Messiah, Messiah took this world by force
He took this world by force
Man and wife asleep in bed
An' she hears a noise and turns her head
He's gone
I wish we'd all been ready
Two men walking up a hill
One disappears, one's left standing still
I wish we'd all been ready
There's no time to change your mind
The son has come and you've been left behind
Messiah took this world by force
Messiah took this world by force
Rivers of blood were running
I could see the armies coming
I could see their weapons falling
Then I could hear the saviour calling
And Messiah, Messiah, Messiah, he took this world by force
Messiah, Messiah, Messiah, he took this world by force
Messiah, Messiah, he took this world by force
He will take this world by force
He will take this world by force
Life is filled with bombs and guns
Heaven help the little ones who die
I hope you'll all be ready
People, gold, oil, guns, bombs, AIDS, Iraq, Iran, Armageddon
I hope we'll all be ready
'Cause there won't be time to change our minds
And no excuse for being blind
The clouds will open up and Jesus will come down
Those who believe in him will go home to be with him
And those who don't believe will be left behind
Don't get left behind
Messiah, Messiah, don't get left behind
Messiah, Messiah, but don't get left behind
He's an unidentified fly, coming back to take us
Don't get left behind
Open up your mind and don't get left behind
He will take this world by
Tell me over and over and over and over again my friend
That you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction
Under his love I've somehow passed the test
Although my life gets busy then I start missing him
Somehow I, under his love I've passed the test
Under his love, under his love I've passed the test
Without him I'm a tree without roots
I'm the lonely star of David in Beirut
I can't make it through without him
And I just don't know what to do
Without him I'll never know what's true
I'd be all alone and lost without you
Under your love I'm convicted but forgiven
He's an unidentified flying object
Coming back to take us home
Under your love I'm convicted but forgiven
In the midst of the war
Life was filled with guns and war
And everyone got trampled on the floor
I wish we'd all been ready
Children died, the days grew cold
A piece of bread could buy a bag of gold
I wish we'd all been ready
There's no time to change your mind
The son has come and you've been left behind
Under his love I'm convicted but forgiven
Under his love I've somehow passed the test
Messiah took this world by force
Messiah took this world by force
I could see people dying
I could hear children crying
I could see the cities falling
I could hear the angels calling
Messiah, Messiah, Messiah took this world by force
He took this world by force
Man and wife asleep in bed
An' she hears a noise and turns her head
He's gone
I wish we'd all been ready
Two men walking up a hill
One disappears, one's left standing still
I wish we'd all been ready
There's no time to change your mind
The son has come and you've been left behind
Messiah took this world by force
Messiah took this world by force
Rivers of blood were running
I could see the armies coming
I could see their weapons falling
Then I could hear the saviour calling
And Messiah, Messiah, Messiah, he took this world by force
Messiah, Messiah, Messiah, he took this world by force
Messiah, Messiah, he took this world by force
He will take this world by force
He will take this world by force
Life is filled with bombs and guns
Heaven help the little ones who die
I hope you'll all be ready
People, gold, oil, guns, bombs, AIDS, Iraq, Iran, Armageddon
I hope we'll all be ready
'Cause there won't be time to change our minds
And no excuse for being blind
The clouds will open up and Jesus will come down
Those who believe in him will go home to be with him
And those who don't believe will be left behind
Don't get left behind
Messiah, Messiah, don't get left behind
Messiah, Messiah, but don't get left behind
He's an unidentified fly, coming back to take us
Don't get left behind
Open up your mind and don't get left behind
He will take this world by
Tell me over and over and over and over again my friend
That you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction
lyrics version 2
The Eastern world, it is exploding
Violence flaring, bullets loading
You're old enough to kill but not for voting
You don't believe in war, but what's that gun you're toting
And even the Jordan river has bodies floating
And you tell me
Over and over and over again my friend
That 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 running away
There'll be no one to save with the world in a grave
If you take a look around you it's bound to scare ya
Tell me
Over and over and over again my friend
You don't believe
We're on the eve of destruction
Yeah my blood's so mad, feels like coagulating
I'm sitting here just uh, contemplating
I can't twist the truth, it knows no regulation
Handful of senators can't pass legislation
And marches alone can't bring integration
When human respect keeps disintegrating
This whole crazy world is just too frustrating
Tell me
Over and over and over again my friend
That 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 four days in space
But when you return, it's the same old place
The pounding of the drum, the pride and disgrace
You can bury your dead, but don't leave a trace
Hate your next door neighbour but don't forget to say grace
Tell me
Over and over and over and over again my friend
You don't believe we're on the eve of destruction
No you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction
You don't believe we're on the eve of destruction
Violence flaring, bullets loading
You're old enough to kill but not for voting
You don't believe in war, but what's that gun you're toting
And even the Jordan river has bodies floating
And you tell me
Over and over and over again my friend
That 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 running away
There'll be no one to save with the world in a grave
If you take a look around you it's bound to scare ya
Tell me
Over and over and over again my friend
You don't believe
We're on the eve of destruction
Yeah my blood's so mad, feels like coagulating
I'm sitting here just uh, contemplating
I can't twist the truth, it knows no regulation
Handful of senators can't pass legislation
And marches alone can't bring integration
When human respect keeps disintegrating
This whole crazy world is just too frustrating
Tell me
Over and over and over again my friend
That 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 four days in space
But when you return, it's the same old place
The pounding of the drum, the pride and disgrace
You can bury your dead, but don't leave a trace
Hate your next door neighbour but don't forget to say grace
Tell me
Over and over and over and over again my friend
You don't believe we're on the eve of destruction
No you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction
You don't believe we're on the eve of destruction
lyrics version 3
The word is revolution
But no one’s fired the shot
Every side has battle plans
With details, counterplots
And the world is closely watching
As we near the battle line
But if you’re truly wise
You’ll keep your eyes on Palestine
The water is polluted
The air is filled with death
Some day it won’t be easy
To stop and catch your breath
But it’s all in Revelations
I guess it’s part of the design
So if you’re truly wise
You’ll keep your eyes on Palestine
Ah la la la la la la la la la [x2]
Well I marched for peace in Washington
When things were getting hot
I gave blood in Chicago
I went anaemic on the spot
I woulda hitch-hiked out to Woodstock
But it’s all a waste of time
So I’m writing down this song to you
To sing and pass along to you
If you’re truly wise
You’ll keep your eyes on Palestine
Ah la la la la la la la la la
They say revolution
Ah la la la la la la la la la la
They say peace, I only see pollution
Ah la la la la la la la la la la
Here come the tribulation
La la la la la la la la la la
Here comes the persecution
Ah la la la la la la la la la la
If you think it's not happening in your country
Then wait 'til it happens to you
The world is coming down to a different road
Than it planned
We're gonna stand beside Jesus
He gonna lead us to another land
Ah la la la la la la la la la la
Ah la la la la la la la la la la
Ah la la tell me, tell me, tell me over and over again my friend
That you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction
But no one’s fired the shot
Every side has battle plans
With details, counterplots
And the world is closely watching
As we near the battle line
But if you’re truly wise
You’ll keep your eyes on Palestine
The water is polluted
The air is filled with death
Some day it won’t be easy
To stop and catch your breath
But it’s all in Revelations
I guess it’s part of the design
So if you’re truly wise
You’ll keep your eyes on Palestine
Ah la la la la la la la la la [x2]
Well I marched for peace in Washington
When things were getting hot
I gave blood in Chicago
I went anaemic on the spot
I woulda hitch-hiked out to Woodstock
But it’s all a waste of time
So I’m writing down this song to you
To sing and pass along to you
If you’re truly wise
You’ll keep your eyes on Palestine
Ah la la la la la la la la la
They say revolution
Ah la la la la la la la la la la
They say peace, I only see pollution
Ah la la la la la la la la la la
Here come the tribulation
La la la la la la la la la la
Here comes the persecution
Ah la la la la la la la la la la
If you think it's not happening in your country
Then wait 'til it happens to you
The world is coming down to a different road
Than it planned
We're gonna stand beside Jesus
He gonna lead us to another land
Ah la la la la la la la la la la
Ah la la la la la la la la la la
Ah la la tell me, tell me, tell me over and over again my friend
That you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction