Selected Role Journal
Songwriter Journal
During the Vietnam War, musicians provided those overseas and on the home front with comforting and peaceful tactics to get their
mind off of the war. Soldiers found it as a connection to their previous life and the lives their loved ones were living back in the States. Also one said, “It is said that war is 99 percent boredom and 1 percent terror.” The music is what helped the soldiers cope with the boredom and it was a constant in their tentative and cautious lives. On the home front, musicians used the music to express their frustrations about events occurring during the war. One example is the death of four students on the campus of Kent State University, May 4, 1970. Within 24 hours, artist Neil Young wrote the song Ohio, in which he expressed his frustration from the shooting. David Crosby released a similar song called, If I Could Only Remember My Name, in which he also expressed his frustration. In Neil Young’s song, he uses repetition throughout the song to convey anxious and rushed expressions. He also says “Soldiers Are Gunning Us Down”, which expresses his rebellious nature and frustration with the law enforcement.
The song, Eve of Destruction by P.F. Sloan, outlines the frustrations of an anti-war American and their feelings during Vietnam. One verse is “Don’t ya 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 you boy. It’s bound to scare you boy”. During the Vietnam war, the nation was split in their views on the war and both sides expressed their views in different ways. In this particular way, Sloan states that once you shoot the gun, there is no turning back and the world will be in turmoil. This song along with many others, was a peaceful way for anti-war Americans to get their anger about the war out in the public and in their heads to get through the war.
The first song of my review is “Eve of Destruction” by P.F. Sloan, performed by Barry McGuire. In this song, Sloan states many negative statements towards the war such as “You’re old enough to kill, but not for votin’.” He is frustrated that so many young Americans have been drafted into the war and their childhood is being ripped from their fingers. He uses quite a few declarative statements such as “Were on the eve of destruction” to declare his position and view of where the world is headed. He also uses questions such as “You don’t believe in war, but what’s that gun your totin’?” Through this he points out the hypocrisy in the war and the lack of choice the soldiers had when they were drafted. He also goes into detail about issues such as segregation, civil rights movements, and the “hate in Red China”. Through referencing an article by David Bowling called “Music Review: Barry McGuire- Eve of Destruction”, I was able to see some background to his song. Apparently, he had served in the United States Navy and wrote the song with The Byrds in mind. He also named his album “Eve of Destruction”. I, being an anti-war American, agree with McGuire and his views stated in this song. However, for those pro-war’s, I see their determination for supporting and defending their country, which mostly involves militarily. Many Americans were also torn during this time period because of the Civil Rights movement and their views; but it took legislation to finally illegalize segregation and set this country on its way to total equality.
The second song of my review is “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-To-Die Rag” by Joe McDonald. In this song, McDonald talks about the military’s need for soldiers through the draft and that “Uncle Sam needs your help again”. It says“pick up your gun, were gunna have some fun”, as if war is a blast and these young men are more than happy to give up their childhood and lives back home tofight yet another war. McDonald uses rhetorical questions that he then responds to with “Don’t ask me, I don’t give a damn”, showing his willingness to throw everything down to fight in the war and encourages everyone else to follow suit. He finishes a verse with “Whoopee were all gunna die!” as a given up view on the war and the hopelessness of it all. A review from Songfacts.com says that this song was written after McDonald had been discharged from the US Navy for several years. It was a “satire of government attitudes towards the Vietnam War.” The song blames those who make money from the war, but not those that fight in it. This song also addresses the horrors of the war and people’s desperation to escape it, even with all the difficulties they faced. This song is very sarcastic in its views on the war and is almost anti-war. The lyrics talk about going to war in a very upbeat and excited fashion, however, it condemns people that would profit from the war such as Wallstreet. It also directs towards the families that will have their children “sent home to them in boxes” in a sympathetic way that the government does not see.
During the Vietnam War, musicians provided those overseas and on the home front with comforting and peaceful tactics to get their
mind off of the war. Soldiers found it as a connection to their previous life and the lives their loved ones were living back in the States. Also one said, “It is said that war is 99 percent boredom and 1 percent terror.” The music is what helped the soldiers cope with the boredom and it was a constant in their tentative and cautious lives. On the home front, musicians used the music to express their frustrations about events occurring during the war. One example is the death of four students on the campus of Kent State University, May 4, 1970. Within 24 hours, artist Neil Young wrote the song Ohio, in which he expressed his frustration from the shooting. David Crosby released a similar song called, If I Could Only Remember My Name, in which he also expressed his frustration. In Neil Young’s song, he uses repetition throughout the song to convey anxious and rushed expressions. He also says “Soldiers Are Gunning Us Down”, which expresses his rebellious nature and frustration with the law enforcement.
The song, Eve of Destruction by P.F. Sloan, outlines the frustrations of an anti-war American and their feelings during Vietnam. One verse is “Don’t ya 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 you boy. It’s bound to scare you boy”. During the Vietnam war, the nation was split in their views on the war and both sides expressed their views in different ways. In this particular way, Sloan states that once you shoot the gun, there is no turning back and the world will be in turmoil. This song along with many others, was a peaceful way for anti-war Americans to get their anger about the war out in the public and in their heads to get through the war.
The first song of my review is “Eve of Destruction” by P.F. Sloan, performed by Barry McGuire. In this song, Sloan states many negative statements towards the war such as “You’re old enough to kill, but not for votin’.” He is frustrated that so many young Americans have been drafted into the war and their childhood is being ripped from their fingers. He uses quite a few declarative statements such as “Were on the eve of destruction” to declare his position and view of where the world is headed. He also uses questions such as “You don’t believe in war, but what’s that gun your totin’?” Through this he points out the hypocrisy in the war and the lack of choice the soldiers had when they were drafted. He also goes into detail about issues such as segregation, civil rights movements, and the “hate in Red China”. Through referencing an article by David Bowling called “Music Review: Barry McGuire- Eve of Destruction”, I was able to see some background to his song. Apparently, he had served in the United States Navy and wrote the song with The Byrds in mind. He also named his album “Eve of Destruction”. I, being an anti-war American, agree with McGuire and his views stated in this song. However, for those pro-war’s, I see their determination for supporting and defending their country, which mostly involves militarily. Many Americans were also torn during this time period because of the Civil Rights movement and their views; but it took legislation to finally illegalize segregation and set this country on its way to total equality.
The second song of my review is “I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-To-Die Rag” by Joe McDonald. In this song, McDonald talks about the military’s need for soldiers through the draft and that “Uncle Sam needs your help again”. It says“pick up your gun, were gunna have some fun”, as if war is a blast and these young men are more than happy to give up their childhood and lives back home tofight yet another war. McDonald uses rhetorical questions that he then responds to with “Don’t ask me, I don’t give a damn”, showing his willingness to throw everything down to fight in the war and encourages everyone else to follow suit. He finishes a verse with “Whoopee were all gunna die!” as a given up view on the war and the hopelessness of it all. A review from Songfacts.com says that this song was written after McDonald had been discharged from the US Navy for several years. It was a “satire of government attitudes towards the Vietnam War.” The song blames those who make money from the war, but not those that fight in it. This song also addresses the horrors of the war and people’s desperation to escape it, even with all the difficulties they faced. This song is very sarcastic in its views on the war and is almost anti-war. The lyrics talk about going to war in a very upbeat and excited fashion, however, it condemns people that would profit from the war such as Wallstreet. It also directs towards the families that will have their children “sent home to them in boxes” in a sympathetic way that the government does not see.