Eve of Tomorrow

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

Tony Mammarella, producer of Dick Clark's American Bandstand, and founder of the record label Swan, released the song "Eve of Tomorrow" (Swan Records # S-4226), a patriotic response to Barry McGuire's "Eve of Destruction"1 Born 2 September 1924 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA. Died November 1977 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It sought to present a positive take on world politics: "go hide on the dark of the day... tomorrow belongs to the brave". It recalled previous wars fought by the older generation, seeking to make a connection to fighting in Vietnam: "it's the same gun your fathers fought with, just to give you a chance... and they gave you this chance to change things, in...Vietnam". Also responding to McGuire remarks on the Civil Rights movement, Mammarella said that "three kids come from the north... they marched down to Mississippi and they died for what they knew was right" - a reference to the murders of three Civil Rights activist, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner on 21 June 1964 by the KKK.1 On mutually-assured destruction (MAD), he claimed: "nobody is going to push a button, as long as we have a button to push".Songs referencing the murders of Chaney, Goodman, and SchwernerSources1The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia: Tony Mammarella↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Civil Rights Songs

Tony Mammarella, producer of Dick Clark's American Bandstand, and founder of the record label Swan, released the song "Eve of Tomorrow" (Swan Records # S-4226), a patriotic response to Barry McGuire's "Eve of Destruction"1 Born 2 September 1924 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA. Died November 1977 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It sought to present a positive take on world politics: "go hide on the dark of the day... tomorrow belongs to the brave". It recalled previous wars fought by the older generation, seeking to make a connection to fighting in Vietnam: "it's the same gun your fathers fought with, just to give you a chance... and they gave you this chance to change things, in...Vietnam". Also responding to McGuire remarks on the Civil Rights movement, Mammarella said that "three kids come from the north... they marched down to Mississippi and they died for what they knew was right" - a reference to the murders of three Civil Rights activist, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner on 21 June 1964 by the KKK.1 On mutually-assured destruction (MAD), he claimed: "nobody is going to push a button, as long as we have a button to push".Sources1The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia: Tony Mammarella↩

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: If you think it's the eve of destruction go hide on the dark of the day / It's only the eve of tomorrow, and tomorrow belongs to the brave / You call this the eve of destruction, your a man with a paper heart / And you belong where it's safe on the sidewalk, and complain when the marches start / Why did the three kids come from the north, they didn't have to join in the fight / But they marched down to Mississippi and they died for what they knew was right / You talk about hate in red China and say it's the same in an Alabama school / Well the hate down there is the exception, and red China they may hate the rule / And your afraid they may push that button and the bomb is gonna fall right on you / Well brother, nobody is going to push a button, as long as we have a button to push to / Take a good look at the gun they might hand you, it looks new but the barrel's been worn / It's the same gun your fathers fought with, just to give you a chance to be born / And they gave you this chance to change things, in...Chicago and even Vietnam / And nobody is going to make your mind up for you, so if you want to say uncle, make it Uncle Sam

Notes

Swan S-4226-E, black and silver label with the slogan "Don't Drop Out"; "Eve of Tomorrow" (A. S. Mammarella, B. Binnick), time 3:39, Bae Music, ASCAP; Tony Mammarella and Chorus; produced and arranged by Richard Barrett. [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

Anthony "Tony" Mammarella (born 2 September 1924 in Atlantic City, New Jersey - delivered at the family house during a Labor Day visit - and raised in Philadelphia's Italian Market; died November 1977 of metastatic lung cancer at Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) was the first producer and second host of American Bandstand, co-founded Swan Records with Dick Clark and Bernie Binnick in 1958, and ran Swan after the payola scandal forced Clark out - writing and arranging as "Anthony September". "Eve Of Tomorrow" / "Love Letter" (Swan S-4226) appeared under his real name…

Themes

Patriotic · Answer to Eve of Destruction

In collections

McGuire's "Eve of Destruction" & Answer Songs · Civil Rights Songs · US 'Patriotic' / Pro-Government / Anti-Protest Songs [War Years]