Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, a musical approach

The Old Testament reading is the famous passages from Eccleasistes 3:1-8 used in weddings, funerals and many events. It is best known in its transformation into song.

Pete Seeger, an American Folk Singer, wrote "Turn, Turn, Turn" in the late 1950’s. It was based on the King James version of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.    The song was originally released in 1962 as "To Everything There Is a Season" on the folk group the Limeliters’ "Folk Matinee" and then some months later on Seeger’s own "The Bitter and the Sweet." The lyrics can be found here

Folkways published a tribute to Seeger after his death in 2014.

The folk rock group the Byrds made it into an international hit in 1965. The idea of reviving the song came to lead guitarist McGuinn during the Byrds’ July 1965 tour of the American Midwest, when his future wife, Dolores, requested the tune on the Byrds’ tour bus. McGuinn added harmonies and the Byrd’s trade mark 12-string Rickenbacker guitar.

The song’s plea for peace and tolerance struck a nerve with the American record buying public as the Vietnam War escalated Seeger made a variation to the Biblical version-"A time for peace, I swear it’s not too late."

Seeger did not sing the Biblical verses without other modifications: 

1. He changed the order, tending to make the positive image the first one

A Bible – "A time to break down, and a time to build up;"

   Seeger – "A time to build up, a time to break down"

B Bible – "A time to weep, and a time to laugh"

   Seeger – "A time to laugh, a time to weep"

C. Bible – "A time to mourn, and a time to dance"

   Seeger – "A time to dance, a time to mourn"

2. He changed words 

A. Bible – "A time to plant, and a time to pluck up"

   Seeger – "A time to plant, a time to reap"

B. Bible – "A time to get, and a time to lose"

   Seeger –  "A time to gain, a time to lose"

3. He omitted words

. "A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;"

4. He added words

A. "To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn) There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)"

B. "A time for peace, I swear it’s not too late."

Here is a 2009 interview where Seeger talk about his song:

An earlier 2006 interview with the Smithsonian talking about the song:

Here is the Byrd’s version in the mid 1960’s in a live performance.

Years later, 3 of the 5 members – McGuinn, Crosby and Crosby got together in a 1990 benefit and performed it again.