About The Song
The song, originally written by Pete Seeger, was adapted by The Byrds and released in late 1965. It quickly gained international success, entering the U.S. chart at number 80 on October 23, 1965, and later reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on December 4, 1965. “Turn! Turn! Turn!” is the title track of The Byrds’ second studio album, released on December 6, 1965. Like its predecessor, the album showcased the band’s folk rock style and vocal harmonies.
The song reflects The Byrds’ distinct folk/rock sound, characterized by multi-guitar timbre and jangly twelve-string Rickenbacker guitar. It contributed to the band’s commercial success and solidified their place in the folk rock genre. “Turn! Turn! Turn!” has been widely used in films and TV shows, evoking memories of the 1960s, further cementing its status as an iconic piece of music history.
Video
Lyrics
To everything – turn, turn, turn
There is a season – turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep
To everything – turn, turn, turn
There is a season – turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven
A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones
A time to gather stones together
To everything – turn, turn, turn
There is a season – turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace
A time to refrain from embracing
To everything – turn, turn, turn
There is a season – turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it’s not too late!