Dawn of Correction

Annotation — McGuire's "Eve of Destruction" & Answer Songs

As can be seen from the title of the song and within the lyrics, the track "The Dawn of Correction" (Decca Record # 31844) answered Barry McGuire's popular single "Eve of Destruction" - in fact, it was played to the same tune. This single reached #36 in the Billboard charts. (1) The Spokesmen were an American garage rock group, made up of John Medora, David White Tucker (of the band Danny & The Juniors) and Roy Gilmore, who all shared the writing credits for the song. Released on the album The Dawn of Correction (Decca # DL 4712) - this album contained two other Vietnam-related tracks - "Better Days Are Yet to Come" and "Have Courage, Be Careful", discussed below. In the first half, the narrator took a hawkish, patriotic stance, arguing that communism posed a threat to the Western democracies, and that if "red domination" was not stopped, then there "will be no need for voting in future generations" in the US. Therefore this backed the domino theory. (1) The lyrics also supported the retaining of nuclear weapons. Barry McGuire had argued that the world faced destruction if the "button is pushed". But The Spokesmen wanted to know "who's crazy enough to risk annihilation?", and that…

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation

As can be seen from the title of the song and within the lyrics, the track "The Dawn of Correction" (Decca Record # 31844) answered Barry McGuire's popular single "Eve of Destruction" - in fact, it was played to the same tune. This single reached #36 in the Billboard charts. (1) The Spokesmen were an American garage rock group, made up of John Medora, David White (of the band Danny & The Juniors) and Roy Gilmore, who all shared the writing credits for the song. Released on the album The Dawn of Correction (Decca # DL 4712) - this album contained two other Vietnam-related tracks - "Better Days Are Yet to Come" and "Have Courage, Be Careful", discussed below. In the first half, the narrator took a hawkish, patriotic stance, arguing that communism posed a threat to the Western democracies, and that if "red domination" was not stopped, then there "will be no need for voting in future generations" in the US. Therefore this backed the domino theory. (1) The lyrics also supported the retaining of nuclear weapons. Barry McGuire had argued that the world faced destruction if the "button is pushed". But The Spokesmen wanted to know "who's crazy enough to risk annihilation?", and that "the…

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

About the artist

American vocal group formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1965 by John Madara, David White and Ray Gilmore, best known for 'The Dawn of Correction' (1965), an answer record to 'Eve of Destruction'. [Source: Wikipedia]

Themes

Patriotic · Answer to Eve of Destruction · Civil Rights · Demonstration

In collections

McGuire's "Eve of Destruction" & Answer Songs · Civil Rights Songs · Garage Rock Songs · US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs