From the Bible to the Billboard Charts: The Story of “Turn! Turn! Turn!”

“Turn! Turn! Turn!” became one of The Byrds’ most enduring and influential songs. Written by Pete Seeger in the late 1950s (with lyrics adapted almost entirely from the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible), the track blends timeless words of wisdom with the Byrds’ signature jangly 12-string Rickenbacker guitar sound.

The song quickly climbed the charts, reaching No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in December 1965, making it the band’s second chart-topping hit after “Mr. Tambourine Man.” Its message of peace, harmony, and the cyclical nature of life resonated deeply during the turbulent 1960s, particularly as the Vietnam War escalated.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐲𝐫𝐝𝐬 – 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧! 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧! 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧!

“Turn! Turn! Turn!” is essentially a musical meditation on time, change, and purpose. The lyrics emphasize that everything in life has its season—a time to be born, a time to die, a time to plant, a time to reap. The Byrds’ version, with its folk-rock arrangement, turned a centuries-old biblical passage into a contemporary anthem of hope, patience, and reflection.
Pete Seeger wrote the song in 1959, setting verses from Ecclesiastes (3:1–8) to music, with only the final line (“a time for peace, I swear it’s not too late”) being his own addition.

The Byrds’ recording gave the song international fame and became a defining anthem of the 1960s counterculture movement.

The jangling guitar sound by Roger McGuinn is considered one of the most iconic tones in rock history.

Over the decades, “Turn! Turn! Turn!” has been covered by artists such as Dolly Parton, Judy Collins, and Bruce Springsteen.

The song was featured in numerous films and TV series, including Forrest Gump and The Wonder Years.

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