The Prophet

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

The song "The Prophet" (Mainstream Records # 631), by the Patriots, a garage rock band based in New York, answered the track "Eve of Destruction" - the "Prophet" referred to Barry McGuire, whom they criticised for "shouting misery and hate... says it's the end, destruction is near", rather than focusing on the positive, hopeful aspects of the US.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: There's a prophet of doom, spreading his gloom, shouting misery and hate / Saying this world is a tomb / Yeah and there ain't no room for dreams cause it's too late / He calls you his friend, says it's the end, destruction is near / But wait, hey prophet, take a look around / Yeah prophet, there's still love around / Sure there are things to be found in this land that is free that don't seem right to me / But there is hope in the air, cause there are people who care, their not full of despair like you... / Hey prophet, I still got to dream about this world / So got a lot of other people I know / You know, it's awful easy for you to talk about / Punch you finger and even sing about it / But prophet, tell me something, what are you doing about it?

Notes

Mainstream Records, "A Product of Mainstream Records Inc.", Record No. 631, matrix S5KM 2959, vocal, 45 RPM; "The Prophet" (Keske-Janssen), time 2:49, Grey Fox (BMI); The Patriots. [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

Formed 1964, Milford Mill, Maryland, USA

Themes

Patriotic · Answer to Eve of Destruction

In collections

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