Steve Goodman - Watchin’ Joey Glow.
http://www.mp3lyrics.org/s/steve-goodman/watching-joey-glow/
I’d like to nominate this thread for the “most ominous thread title” award.
Yeah, I read the title and said, “Whoa! Better the check the news sites.”
Anyway, my nomination is “Blackened” by Metallica. More pre-apocalyptic, but I think it fits.
I’ll second GSYBE and throw in almost any song by Converge. Also the entire second side of David Bowie’s Low.
“Miami 2017 (I’ve Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)”, Billy Joel. Strictly speaking, it’s about the end of New York City, not the world, but it’s appropriately apocalyptic.
Eve of Destruction- Sing Along with Barry McGuire. Barry McGwire “the Eve of Destruction”.
“A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall,” Bob Dylan
“1983… (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)/Moon, Turn the Tides…Gently Gently Away,” Jimi Hendrix
It’s a ridiculous song (“We’re heading to Venus…”) but I’m surprised nobody has mentioned The Final Countdown by Europe.
The album New World’s Fair by Michael Moorcock and the Deep Fix.
(Yes, the Michael Moorcock. He was buddies with Hawkwind back in the day.)
And also friends with Buck Dharma and Blue Oyster Cult… hmm, perhaps Godzilla should be in this list, along with E.T.I. and Black Blade.
Also covered by Great Big Sea in a version that I prefer.
Is this an End Of The World song?
Jefferson Airplane’s The House At Pooneil Corners.
Sounds pretty apocalyptic to me.
XTC’s “This World Over”
Well, I’m feeling old here. (Heck I’m ten years ***older ***than the President-elect).
Someone already mentioned “Eve of Destruction”.
It seems that of all the songs mentioned so far, the least “hip”, most minimalist apocalyptic themed would have to be “End of the World” by Skeeter Davis. Although a “pop” hit from the early 1960’s, it has more of a country sound. Basically Skeeter is singing about the gloom that has befallen her now that her lover has left her. The title of the song is extremely deceptive wouldn’t you say? I’d say this is not the type of song you wanted at all. Still, I am adhering to the OP because it literally is an “End of the World” song.
As for another nomination there’s “2525” by Zager and Evans. Yes, this song is just a few steps up in hipness from the Skeeter Davis melody and so this too might be considered a trivial tune.
“Last Goodbye” Jeff Buckley?
Dang, someone beat me to XTC.
Flowers, by Camper Van Beethoven was the other one that sprang to my mind.
And, along the same line, “Party at Ground Zero” by Fishbone.
Also, “Earth Died Screaming” by Tom Waits.
Finally, the title obviously dates it but Prince’s “1999” should fit well with the apocalyptic theme.
“Pets” by Porno for Pyros
If “the Earth” = “The World”, then I think so.