Barry McGuire - Eve of Destruction - Don't Blame God - II Chronicles 7:14 Lyrics
Lyrics
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, ah, tell me
What's that gun you're totin'?
And even the Jordan River has bodies floatin'
And you tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend
Sayin' you don't believe
We're on the eve of destruction
If you're still alive
And you can hear this song
You know this world cannot survive
'Cause something's all gone wrong
You may not like hearing it
You may be right in fearing it
But this land of ours is dying
And you know it won't be long
Until it's gone
Yes, she's building up a debt
That she can never pay
Piling up the bodies
That she can't hide away
Her Godless people failing her
Like drunken seaman sailing her
Head on upon a deadly reef
Of greed and moral decay
So don't blame God
For the sins of America
America has fallen
From the ways of the Lord
Don't blame God
For the sins of America
Living for the dollar
She'll be dying by the sword
On every silver coin
And every dollar bill
I read the words, "In God We Trust"
While out of fear we kill
Your freedom is just a mockery
Communist democracy
Materialistic pleasure slaves
Looking for another thrill
And we got million dollar churches
But nobody's on their knees
Well, there's so many selfish people
Just doing what they please
You know we're sending people to the moon
We got a TV set in every room
Well, just to watch a world that's dying
From starvation and disease
So don't blame God
For the sins of America
America has fallen
From the ways of the Lord
Now, don't blame God
For the sins of America
Living for the dollar
She'll be dying by the sword
Yeah, dying by the sword
But if my people
Who are called by My name
Will humble themselves and pray
Seek My face
And turn from their wicked ways
Then from heaven will I hear
Forgive them of their sin
And heal their land
Video
Barry McGuire - Eve Of Destruction/Don't Blame God/II Chronicles 7:14
Meaning & Inspiration
Barry McGuire’s "Eve of Destruction - Don't Blame God - II Chronicles 7:14," released on June 29, 2024, arrives as a potent, raw declaration, breathing renewed spiritual urgency into the iconic social commentary. This updated rendition transcends mere nostalgia, serving as a prophetic warning and a passionate call to accountability. The song’s very title signals its profound theological pivot: it’s no longer just a lament about societal decay, but a direct attribution of that decay to human choices and a clear pathway back to divine restoration.
From its opening lines, the song confronts the listener with a stark portrayal of a world spiraling into chaos. The imagery of an "Eastern world exploding" and "bullets loading," alongside the grim picture of "bodies floating" in even sacred rivers, paints a global landscape marred by conflict and suffering. This intense overview of human-made destruction, where individuals are "old enough to kill, but not for votin'," immediately highlights the profound moral contradictions of our time. It’s a powerful reflection of humanity’s fallen state, where the pursuit of selfish desires often fuels conflict, as James 4:1-2 clearly articulates, reminding us that wars and fights come from our own cravings. The declaration that "we're on the eve of destruction" is not just a catchy phrase; it’s a spiritual alarm, asserting that the world's peril is not accidental but a direct consequence of a collective straying from divine order, mirroring the warnings found throughout scripture about the inevitable outcomes of unrighteousness.
As the song progresses, it deepens its critique, asserting that "this world cannot survive 'Cause something's all gone wrong," and "this land of ours is dying." This isn't passive observation; it’s an active indictment of a society that is "building up a debt that she can never pay," accumulating the weight of its sins and failures. The lyrics vividly describe a nation being led astray by "Godless people failing her, like drunken seaman sailing her head on upon a deadly reef of greed and moral decay." Here, the song clearly identifies the root causes of our societal ills, aligning perfectly with biblical condemnations of avarice and moral decline. Paul’s letter to Timothy warns that "the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil" (1 Timothy 6:10), while Romans 1:28-32 details the spiritual and moral degradation that follows when humanity rejects God. The song pulls no punches in stating that human choices, driven by greed and moral corruption, are steering society toward ruin.
The heart of this updated message resonates powerfully in the repeated chorus: "So don't blame God for the sins of America, America has fallen from the ways of the Lord." This is a profoundly important theological statement, directly challenging the tendency to attribute human suffering or societal breakdown to God's will. Instead, the song unequivocally places the responsibility where it belongs: on human shoulders. It highlights the consequence of "living for the dollar," proclaiming that "she'll be dying by the sword." This echoes Matthew 6:24, where Jesus declares that "no one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." Furthermore, the imagery of "dying by the sword" reminds us of the principle Jesus articulated in Matthew 26:52, that "all who take the sword will perish by the sword," emphasizing the self-destructive nature of violent and ungodly paths.
The song continues its indictment by pointing out the hypocrisy of a nation that inscribes "In God We Trust" on its currency while simultaneously acting "out of fear we kill." It critiques a society that touts "freedom" yet is enslaved to "materialistic pleasure slaves looking for another thrill." This contrast between outward profession and inward reality is a theme Jesus often addressed, condemning those who honor God with their lips but whose hearts are far from Him (Matthew 15:8). The lyrics also lament "million dollar churches but nobody's on their knees" and "so many selfish people just doing what they please," showcasing a form of religiosity devoid of genuine humility, worship, or compassion. This mirrors Isaiah 1:11-17, where God expresses weariness with empty rituals when justice and righteousness are absent. The juxtaposition of sending "people to the moon" and having "a TV set in every room" with a world "dying from starvation and disease" serves as a poignant critique of our misplaced priorities, echoing the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31, where abundance coexists with stark indifference to suffering.
Yet, the song concludes not in despair, but with a profound and hopeful invitation, directly quoting **II Chronicles 7:14**: "But if my people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray, seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then from heaven will I hear, forgive them of their sin, and heal their land." This is the song’s ultimate message of grace and redemption, moving beyond critique to offer a clear, divinely prescribed solution. This ancient promise, given by God to Solomon, transcends its original context to become a timeless blueprint for national and spiritual restoration. It underscores that healing for the land – and by extension, for society and individuals – is contingent upon genuine humility, fervent prayer, seeking God's presence, and a decisive turning away from sin. This powerful conclusion transforms "Eve of Destruction" from a mere protest song into a gospel anthem, challenging humanity to embrace spiritual accountability and offering the unparalleled hope of divine intervention for those who earnestly seek Him. It’s an inspiring call to action, reminding all who hear that even on the "eve of destruction," there remains a pathway to healing and renewal through repentance and faith.