Turn Turn Turn
Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen Lyrics


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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

Overall Meaning

The song "Turn Turn Turn" is a musical adaptation of the Bible verse Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, which explores the cyclical nature of life and the inevitability of change. The lyrics speak to the idea that everything has its own season and purpose, and that each season and purpose is necessary in its own way. The repetition of the phrase "to everything, there is a season" ā€“ sung in a haunting, circular melody ā€“ emphasizes this sense of cyclical progression, reminding listeners that life is constantly in motion.


Throughout the song, the lyrics explore a range of contrasting experiences that represent the ups and downs of existence. Birth and death, planting and reaping, love and hate, peace and war ā€“ all of these opposites are represented as necessary to the overall balance of life. The alternating rhythm of the song reinforces this sense of movement and change, as each phrase builds upon the last to create a powerful expression of the forces that govern our lives.


At its core, "Turn Turn Turn" is a song about acceptance ā€“ acceptance of the fact that life is always changing, that good times will inevitably be followed by bad, and that everything has its own season. By acknowledging these truths and embracing them, we can learn to appreciate the beauty of life even in its darkest moments.


Line by Line Meaning

To everything (turn, turn, turn)
All things in life have a cycle or a rhythm to them.


There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
There is a period for every event that occurs in our lives.


And a time to every purpose, under heaven
There exists an appropriate time and goal for everything on this planet.


A time to be born, a time to die
There's a beginning and an end to every life.


A time to plant, a time to reap
For every plant to grow, there needs to be a time to plant it, and for every harvest to happen, there must be a time to reap.


A time to kill, a time to heal
Certain times in life may require us to end something, while other times may require us to start over.


A time to laugh, a time to weep
There are moments of joy and laughter, but there are also times of sadness and mourning.


A time to build up,a time to break down
Some things require us to build or construct them, while others require us to take them apart or destroy them.


A time to dance, a time to mourn
At times we dance, and at other times we mourn, but all moments have a purpose in our lives.


A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together
There are moments where we need to let go of things we don't need or discard them, while at other times, we hold on tightly to them.


A time of love, a time of hate
In life, we experience moments of deepness and affection with others or anger and resentment toward them.


A time of war, a time of peace
There are periods of conflict and struggle, but there are also periods of peace and reconciliation.


A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing
Sometimes we are able to embrace life with open arms, but at other times, we need to be more cautious and take a step back.


A time to gain, a time to lose
We have moments in our lives where we achieve or acquire things, but we also have moments where we lose or have to release them.


A time to rend, a time to sew
In some cases, we must tear or break things down to rebuild or reconstruct them in a better way.


A time for love, a time for hate
There are periods where we should express love and compassion towards others, and other periods where we find ourselves harboring hate and anger.


A time for peace, I swear it's not too late
Although there will always be conflict, there is always the possibility of peace, and it's never too late to achieve it.




Lyrics Ā© Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PETER SEEGER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Jojo heartspaypay

Devastatingly incredible...strings like an army...seen him live and still can't get over it..

kmslegal

I wish Chris would tour again

Rick Kraus

This is so freaking good.

kmslegal

just beautiful. Wish Chris would tour again

ralph crosby

I loved these two with the Desert Rose Band. Great vocals and pickers

chris parker

Saw these two legends at the Birchmere not long ago.Great show and easy to chat with afterward and quick with their autographs!

markyeeee

really surprised at what a good vocalist Chris Hillman is...

fetermcblues

nice .. always fun listen to these Guys ... introducing history again !

Eric Paz

Love it! =)

Karl A

Great performance, Thank you!

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