The Byrds
Turn, Turn, Turn" is a song written by Pete Seeger and popularized in about 1965 by a single by The Byrds; it was also the title and first track of their second album. It is commonly interpreted as an admonishing plea for world peace, framed in a reading from the Old Testament's Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 ("To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under Heaven..."). Closer inspection of the lyrics, however, may indicate a painful recognition that sometimes killing and war might be the only answer, but it is also clear that Seeger did not find this to be the case with regard to the Vietnam War, or the Cold War in general: the last line, original with Seeger, reads as follows: "A time for peace, I swear it's not too late."
The song has been covered by a number of other artists, including folk singer Judy Collins and country singer Dolly Parton, as well as by Seeger himself.
To everything - turn, turn, turn There is a season - turn, turn, turn And a time for 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 for 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 for every purpose under heaven
A time of war, a time of peace A time of love, a time of hate 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 for every purpose under heaven
A time to gain, a time to lose A time to rend, a time to sew A time to love, a time to hate A time of peace, I swear it's not too late!
