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

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…