Yesterday's Gone

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

The b-side, as suggested by the title of the song "Yesterday's Gone" (Kerwood Records # 713), was yet another take down of "Eve of Destruction", this time in the contemporary folk genre, with an adapted melody of the Barry McGuire / P.F. Sloan song, which presented an attempt to offer a positive take: "I've heard all your lectures... you keep on saying it's tomorrow... but it's today... it's a dim little light, it flickers like hope".

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Lyrics

English: There's a light in the window I can see from this ? / Like the prayer through the rabbi, the preacher, the pope / It's a dim little light, it flickers like hope / Gives something to cling to ? / And you keep on saying it's tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow comes the dawn / But it's today / Cause tomorrow leaves yesterday / Yesterday's gone / I spoke about my ways / And I've listened to yours / I've heard all your lectures / I've taken your tours / You've waited for years, months, day, and hours, talking and waiting and things getting worse / And you keep on saying it's tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow comes the dawn / But it's today / Cause tomorrow leaves yesterday / Yesterday's gone / Well years have gone by / ? falling behind / Your doubts and your worries ? / You've wasted your time... / If you planted to see the red rose and the white / They fight for survival to grow there...? / Fighting so hard for the place in the light / They didn't have time care which was red and which white...

Notes

Kerwood Records 713-A / 713-B; "Think It Over" (GB-69), 2:38, and "Yesterday's Gone" (GB-70), 2:58, both Anastasia Music (BMI); distributed by Malynn Enterprises, Inc. No writers printed. [From the record sleeve and labels]

About the artist

Presumed to be Richard Gillis, American singer, songwriter and composer, born 15 December 1938 in Hollywood, California, died 31 July 2019 in Thousand Oaks, California; discovered by director Sam Peckinpah while performing at Jason's Steakhouse in Toluca Lake, he wrote and sang songs for 'The Ballad of Cable Hogue' (1970, incl. 'Butterfly Mornings') and contributed music to films including 'A Boy and His Dog' and 'Convoy', following U.S. Army service and behind-the-scenes film work. [Source: The Hollywood Reporter obituary / Rotten Tomatoes bio / Discogs]

Themes

Anti-Protest · 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]