The Turtles - Eve of Destruction (1965)

This song was written by P.F. Sloan when he was only nineteen years old. In 1964, Phil “Flip” Sloan wrote this song in a style similar to what Bob Dylan was putting out at the time. After being rejected by The Byrds, it was given to the group who usually recorded their rejected material: The Turtles. It didn’t do well.

Luckily for Sloan in the long run, it would soon be recorded by Barry McGuire and become a nationwide hit. Personally, I’ve requested my local radio station to play The Turtles’ version of the song, but they always insist that they “don’t have it”. Because of this, I assume there’s many people who don’t realize The Turtles ever recorded the song, let alone put it out before McGuire’s version. Although it lacks the grit and punch of McGuire’s, it’s nice to hear it being done by this group.

There’s also a great history of today’s song, as told by P.F. Sloan himself, which I encourage you to read here.



The Turtles - Eve of Destruction (1965)

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Lyrics:

The Eastern world- it is explodin'
Violence flarin', bullets loadin'
You're old enough to kill, but not for votin'
You don't believe in war, but what's that gun you're totin'?
And even the Jordan River has bodies floatin'

But ya tell me over and over and over again, my friend
Ah, ya don't believe we're on the eve of destruction

Don't you understand what I'm tryin' to say?
And can't you feel the fears that 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 ya, boy; it's bound to scare ya, boy; and ya

Tell me over and over and over again, my friend
Ah, ya 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 poundin' 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

Aw, no, no, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction

Keith Moon - Naked Man (1975)

Depending on who you ask, the greatest rock drummer of all time is either John Bonham of Led Zeppelin or this man. Between his fourteen year career as The Who’s drummer, blowing up toilets in hotel rooms across America, and passing out on stage in the middle of a song, he is remembered as one of the most charismatic, talented, and insane figures in rock history. It was said that had he been born at a later date, he probably would have been diagnosed with a borderline personality disorder. Sadly, an overdose of sedatives ended his life prematurely at the age of thirty-two. Considering that he is one of rock’s most legendary artists, it is with no doubt that his life cannot be fully summarized here.

This song comes from Moon’s only solo album, titled Two Sides of the Moon, and features a slew of Moon’s famous friends. It was composed entirely of cover songs written by artists such as John Lennon, Pete Townshend, and Brian Wilson. This particular song was originally written by Randy Newman, who stated that its lyrics were based on a true story told to him by a friend who worked as a public defender.



Keith Moon - Naked Man (1975)

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Lyrics:

Old lady lost in the city
In the middle of a cold, cold night
It was fourteen below and the wind starts to blow
There wasn't a boy scout in sight

Pull down the shades 'cause he's comin'
Turn out the lights 'cause he's here
Runnin' hard down the street
Through the snow and the sleet
On the coldest night of the year

Beware- beware- beware of the naked man
Beware- beware- beware of the naked man

Old lady head up toward Broad Street
Shufflin' up town against the wind
She had started to cry, wiped a tear from her eye
And looked back to see where she had been

Old lady stand on the corner
With a purse in her hand
She does not know but in a minute or so
She will be robbed by a naked man

Beware- beware- beware of the naked man
Beware- beware- beware of the naked man

Old lady lean ‘gainst a lamp post
Starin' down at the ground on which she stand
She look up and scream
For the lamplight's beam
There stood the famous naked man

And he say, "They found out about my sister
And kicked me out of the navy
They would have strung me up if they could
I tried to explain that we were both of us lazy
And we’re doing the best we could"

But he faked to the left and he faked to the right
And he snatched the purse from her hand
"Someone stop me," he cried
As he faded from sight
"Won't nobody help the naked man?"
"Won't nobody help the naked man?"

Beware- beware- beware of the naked man
Beware- beware- beware of the naked man

I’m not naked, but beware
I’m not naked, but beware
I’m not naked, but beware
I’m not naked, but beware

Do you think The Beatles will get back together?

The Turtles - It Ain't Me Babe (1965)

Originally a surf-rock group called The Crossfires, this band was one of the most celebrated bands of the 1960s. When they made their shift into folk music to fit in with the increasing trend, they intentionally misspelled their name “The Tyrtles” to fit in with others who misspelled their names such as The Beatles and The Byrds. It didn't last very long. Their largest success came with their 1967 hit “Happy Together,” reaching number one and knocking "Penny Lane" off the top spot.

This song, their first hit, was written in 1964 by Bob Dylan. It was rumored that the lyrics “no, no, no it ain’t me babe” was a direct parody referencing The Beatles’ “She Loves You” (“She loves you, yea, yea, yea”).



The Turtles - It Ain't Me Babe (1965)

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Lyrics:

Go away from my window
Leave at your own chosen speed
I'm not the one you want, babe
I'm not the one you need

You say you're lookin' for someone
Who's never weak but always strong
To protect you and defend you
Whether you are right or wrong
Someone to open each and every door

But it ain't me babe
Ah, no, no, no it ain't me babe
Well, it ain't me you're lookin' for babe

Go lightly from the ledge, babe
Go lightly on the ground
I'm not the one you want, babe
I'll only lead you down

You say you're lookin' for someone
Who'll promise never to part
Someone to close his eyes to you
Someone to close his heart
Someone who will die for you and more

But it ain't me babe
Ah, no, no, no it ain't me babe
Well, it ain't me you're lookin' for babe

No it ain't me you're lookin' for, babe
I said ah no, no, no, it ain't me babe
I said ah no, no, no, it ain't me babe…