Turn! Turn! Turn!

The Byrds

About Turn! Turn! Turn!

"Turn! Turn! Turn!", or "Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)", is a song written by Pete Seeger in the late 1950s and first recorded in 1959. The lyrics – except for the title, which is repeated throughout the song, and the final two lines – consist of the first eight verses of the third chapter of the biblical Book of Ecclesiastes. The song was originally released in 1962 as "To Everything There Is a Season" on folk group the Limeliters' album Folk Matinee, and then some months later on Seeger's own The Bitter and the Sweet. The song became an international hit in late 1965 when it was adapted by the American folk rock group the Byrds. The single entered the U. S. chart at number 80 on October 23, 1965, before reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on December 4, 1965. In Canada, it reached number 3 on November 29, 1965, and also peaked at number 26 on the UK Singles Chart. 


Year:
2005
3:55
40 
#1

Lyrics currently unavailable…


The Byrds

The Byrds ( /ˈbɜrdz/) were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn (aka Jim McGuinn) remaining the sole consistent member, until the group disbanded in 1973. Although they only managed to attain the huge commercial success of contemporaries like The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and The Rolling Stones for a short period of time (1965–66), The Byrds are today considered by critics to be one of the most influential bands of the 1960s. Initially, they pioneered the musical genre of folk rock, melding the influence of The Beatles and other British Invasion bands with contemporary and traditional folk music. As the 1960s progressed, the band was a… more »

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4 facts about this song

Song Composition
1. "Turn! Turn! Turn!" is a song that was initially written by Pete Seeger in the late 1950s. He adapted the words from the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible. 2. Most of the lyrics in the song are taken directly from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, with Seeger adding the title and the final line, "A time for peace, I swear it's not too late." 3. The arrangement of the song makes it unique for including direct biblical scripture.
Performance and Release
4. Though Pete Seeger had initially composed the music, the song came to prominence when The Byrds released their adaptation as a single in 1965. 5. With the release of this song, The Byrds became the first rock group to release a hit single that contained lyrics entirely from the Bible. 6. The Byrds' rendition was remarkably successful, hitting number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S.
Cultural Impact
7. The song was widely popular during the Vietnam War era, becoming an anthem for the anti-war movement. 8. Seeger's memorable line, "A time for peace, I swear it's not too late," in reference to the Vietnam War, added to its popularity and relevance. 9. Despite being over 50 years old, the song remains popular and often features in various films and TV shows.
Legacy
10. In 2004, the song was included in the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. 11. The writer, Pete Seeger, and the performers, The Byrds, have both been acknowledged and honored in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

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