About The Song

“Turn, Turn, Turn,” performed by The Seekers, is a beautiful, timeless anthem that combines folk and pop with deep, Biblical inspiration. Written by Pete Seeger, the song is a musical adaptation of words from the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament. With its message of change and the passage of time, the song resonates with universal themes of life’s cycles and seasons.

The Seekers, led by Judith Durham with her clarion, bell-like voice, bring a unique warmth to the track. Their performance, set against the scenic backdrop of the Barossa Valley in South Australia, encapsulates the feeling of the 1960s era—hopeful, natural, and full of possibilities. The image of Judith with her ponytail, and the sharp, youthful looks of the group, adds to the nostalgia and idyllic atmosphere of the performance.

The Song’s Message

The lyrics draw heavily from the Biblical passage in Ecclesiastes 3, which reflects on the inevitability of life’s changes:
“To everything, turn, turn, turn,
There is a season, turn, turn, turn…”

The song’s central message is about embracing the changing seasons of life, and the poignant plea for peace at the song’s conclusion remains just as relevant today as it was when first released.

Legacy

The Seekers’ version of “Turn, Turn, Turn” stands as one of their most popular songs, beautifully capturing both the folk spirit and the universal themes of peace, love, and life’s impermanence. The song’s use of Ecclesiastical texts gives it a depth that still speaks to listeners decades later, making it a lasting anthem for peace.

Lyrics

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
And 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 love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
And 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 sow
A time to love, a time to hate
A time for peace, I swear, it’s not too late
To everything, turn, turn, turn
There is a season, turn, turn, turn
And a time for every purpose under Heaven