P.F. Sloan’s “Eve of Destruction” sung by Barry McGuire and Bob Dylan’s “These Times They Are A-Changin’” have some similarities, but were aimed at different concerns. Both songs were written in the early to mid-1960’s and dealt with the political issues of Civil Rights act and the Vietnam War. However, “These Times They Are A-Changin’” is a folk song, and “Eve of Destruction” is of the rock genre.

“Eve of Destruction”, written in 1965, highlights the tragedies of war and seems to focus on Vietnam. Sloan writes “you’re old enough to kill but not for votin’”. This line is in reference to the fact that 18-year old males were eligible to be dr

Bob Dylan’s “These Times They Are A-Changin’”, written in 1963, is basically a prediction of what is to come concerning the Civil Rights movement. Dylan’s first verse is attempting to get people to realize what is going on and if they don’t take action chaos will prevail. In Dylan’s third verse he says, “come senators, congressmen please heed the call”. He’s trying to tell the politicians that they need to move faster to pass the legislation eliminating segregation. This point is enforced in his next lines, “For he that gets hurt will be he who has stalled. There’s a battle outside and it’s ragin’”. He seems to have predicted what did happen. This is undoubtedly why he has been called the most significant poet and profit of his time. Dylan’s next verse talks about mothers and fathers giving way to their children. He is trying to say that just because there was segregation back in their day that it cannot continue to be that way forever. He says “your old road is rapidly agin’. Please get out of the new one if you can’t lend a hand.” He’s telling them to either give in to the demand for equality and get the country integrated or step aside. Dylan’s plea for action finally came, but it was too late.

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