In Barry McGuire’s song, “Eve of Destruction” became big a big hit when it was first released in 1965. The song aroused a lot of controversy and was even banned on certain radio stations but was a popular single among non-college educated people. It was the first protest song of it’s time conveying the emotions of frustration held by the younger crowd towards the civil rights movement and the Cold War.

The audience of this song during the time appreciated and liked it a lot because it expressed the emotions of millions of young Americans. “You’re old enough to kill, but not for votin”, that line from the song shares one of the elements that had built up so much anger in the young crowd towards the war because they were forced to participate but yet weren’t allowed the freedom to vote at that age.