Turn Turn Turn! / To Everything There Is A Season
Judy Collins Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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

Overall Meaning

Judy Collins's song "Turn, Turn, Turn!" is an iconic song that speaks to the cyclical nature of life, particularly the idea that everything has its time and place. The lyrics are built around the idea that there are certain seasons or times for every human activity or feeling, from birth to death, and everything in between. The phrase "turn, turn, turn" is repeated in every verse and serves as a reminder of the constant movement and change that is a part of life.


The first verse focuses on the idea of a time for every purpose under heaven, setting the stage for the rest of the song. It reminds listeners that there is a season for everything, whether it is joy or sorrow, life or death. The rest of the song expands on this theme, offering examples of different pairs of opposites that are part of the cycle of life. For instance, there is a time to be born and a time to die, as well as a time to heal and a time to kill.


Line by Line Meaning

To everything
For each and every thing


Turn, turn, turn
Changes occur


There is a season
There is a time and place


And a time for every purpose under heaven
For every intention, there is a suitable time and place


A time to be born,
A time for new beginnings


A time to die
A time for endings


A time to plant,
A time to start something new


A time to reap
A time to enjoy the fruits of your labor


A time to kill,
A time for destruction


A time to heal
A time for repair and recovery


A time to laugh,
A time for joy and merriment


A time to weep
A time for sadness and mourning




Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Peter Seeger

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@susan3579

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 buid 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 rain, a time of sow
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace
I swear it's not too late



@MrForrestErickson

RE: Bible certainly can produce some of the best lyrics

And the worst.
There really is no time for war. And if there were a god who set such a time for humans such god would be evil and despiseable.

But... Perhaps I am too pessimist, How about a song from Deuteronomy. We will call it, "So The LORD Will Rejoice Over You To ......"
****************************************************************************
28:62 And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the LORD thy God.

28:63 And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it.

28:64 And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.

28:65 And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:

28:66 And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life:



@hongqiwu2162

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



@sonialeamariemadeleine2022

Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season)
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 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
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 to love, a time to hate
A time of peace, I swear it's not too late

To everything, turn, turn, turn
There is a season
And a time to every purpose under heaven
And a time to every purpose under heaven



All comments from YouTube:

@VILJL

Judy Collins was born in Seattle, Washington on May 1st, 1939. Sheย is a Grammy Award-winning American singer and songwriter with a career spanning over 60 years. She is known for her eclectic tastes in the material she records (which has includedย folk music,ย show tunes, pop music,ย rock and rollย andย standards) for her social activism, and for the clarity of her voice. Collins has released 28 studio albums, 4 live albums, numerous compilation albums and 4 holiday albums. Today, May 1st, 2021, she is celebrating her 82nd birthday.

@abelardorumbaoa6510

. In

@wlodell

I would have never guessed that Judy Collins was born in Seattle, WA.

@fernandozablah9283

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@trackie1957

A masterpiece. I always loved the Byrdsโ€™ version, but Wikipedia informed me of Judyโ€™s, so I came here. This is so perfect. Iโ€™m choked up listening to this knowing where we were then and where we were going. Itโ€™s good to remember that our country has been through some tough challenges. We have the ability to endure the challenges of our own time. Who are the voices of today?

@geoffreysonnen3482

I'm one of them, yet am still trying to break through. Long story to this, but going back to Judy; yes, i'd never heard this before either until now and had the same reaction. I'm so much in agreement with your feelings and words. But unfortunately, the bad apples permeate the entire carts in my country, the USA, and also abroad. Just a few with matches can burn it all down! I know i'm mixing metaphors, but i just have to say that the book from where the lyrics are derived? If only more could read and heed the insight and compassion of the writer (some say Solomon, others have other opinions) shown within those 12 chapters. The world would be "woke", actually! Being alert and sensitive is always better than out-of-touch slumber.

@trackie1957

@@geoffreysonnen3482
Itโ€™s from the Old Testament. Pete Seeger's song "Turn! Turn! Turn!" takes all but one of its lines from the Book of Ecclesiastes chapter 3.

I love how you mixed the metaphors so appropriately.

@user-bv2zd3ey6m

ื”ื›ืœ ืœืงื•ื— ืžืงื•ื”ืœืช

@georgerebovich3758

Every time I hear Judy Collinsโ€™ version I get chills.

@goofe.washington953

And I cryโ€ฆ

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