Written by P.F. Sloan, It was originally recorded by The Turtles, who released it on their first album earlier in 1965. The Turtles did not release it as a single, and MaGuire's version became the hit. He was in a group called The New Christy Minstrels before recording as a solo artist. He had a few hits with the group,"Green Green" and "Saturday Night.” Eve of Destruction was his only hit as a solo artist. THE OVERALL INSPIRATION AND MESSAGE OF THE LYRICS IS THAT ALL AMERICANS SHOULD HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS, AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS. THIS IS ALSO DISCUSSED EARLIER ON IN THE SONG WHEN the problem wtih THE YOUNG MEN WHO WEREN'T GIVEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE, BUT WERE ALLOWED TO RISK THEIR LIVES FOR THE COUNTRY is addressed. THE song is trying to convey the MESSAGE THAT THERE’S SO MUCH HATE GOING AROUND, AS WELL AS WAR, IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE AND WHEN IT DOES THERE WILL BE NO GOING BACK TO THE WAY THAT THINGS USED TO BE.

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 whats 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 you boy, it's bound to scare you 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 coagulating

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 four days in space

But when you return it's the same old place

The pounding 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

Mmm, no, no, you don't believe

We're on the eve of destruction

Yeah, my blood's so mad, feels like coagulatin', I'm sittin' 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.

This verse is discussing the issues with civil rights, and how legislation for civil rights was rarely passed, and if it was it would happen after a long period of time. This also leads into the second part when he says that, "marches alone can't bring integration." Since legislation by the senators aren't being passed, the people of America need to do much more than just marches to speed up the process of integration. This verse also DISCUSSES how respect for humans was falling apart, mostly because of the people who didn't support equality for all.