The Mourning Morning Years On

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"Eve Of Destruction"

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

The Mourning Morning 100 and 50 Years On Robert Graves lies in Wilfried Owen’s grave ponders the War to end all Wars that continue with nothing else for us in store and Barry Mc Guire sang summed it all up in 65 in destruction’s eve thereof a cold dawn of reckoning conscience lost ever more My Lai lives on and Srebrenica in naked truth of persecution soars Wall Street Abrams Challenger Tanks as the best solution for keeping pacifism social justice common sense at dismembered arm’s length and loss still counts body bags for the good of delusion Wounded Knee White and other blood rivers Tigris Euphrates Nyabarongo swell swollen this morning today at great ease with buried tears pounding of drums the pride and disgrace’ falsified messages broken walls shots of money’s droned lease You can’t bury the dead and not leave a trace but attempt very well to photo-shop engage propaganda erase meaning and sell sell sell Marches alone will not consign madness ethnic cleansing proven genocidal greedy insanity but disapprove sin and continue to tell About 'Eve Of Destruction' like Graves Ghandi Mc Guire 50 years on tune protest poetry and rock ballads shout clear in more than a song Contemplate on the call up imagine a battle and nobody goes forth scream howl against dogs of war and their masters please sing along 31st August 2016

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Dm Babbit

Date: 9/19/2016 2:04:00 PM

Terrific, this is one of my fav other songs and singers. Sad to say, it's my time but we are still teetering on the "eve of destruction". Congrats.

Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 9/20/2016 12:35:00 AM

Thank you DM. I also think that we are tinkering around it. I live in Johannesburg and with all that is going on in the world, it seems to be a pretty safe place these days by comparison. Many wishes, Kai

Tom Arnone

Date: 9/17/2016 10:09:00 PM

Great commentary on a great 60s anti-war song. :-)

Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 9/18/2016 9:19:00 AM

Thank you very much for your kind comment. The song shows my age, but poetry should rejuvenate me. Many wishes, Kai

Phillip Garcia

Date: 9/17/2016 5:05:00 PM

Michael - what an excellent piece! I'll confess that of the final 16 I read yours the most to make sure I was properly catching everything. Each read was a pleasure. Very deep write and very fluid when read outloud. Thank you so much for a brilliant contribution

Kai Michael Neumann
Date: 9/18/2016 9:21:00 AM

Thank you Phillip. I appreciate your hard work in sponsoring the contest and your comment. I enjoyed writing this very much. Many wishes and greetings, Kai