Turn! Turn! Turn! and Its Meaning of Faith

1965 was a time of change. America was getting deeper into its involvement in the Vietnam War. The Second Vatican Council was in its concluding moments, just to name a few events. The 1960s saw many rising groups and artists, and songs that have defined a generation. One song was a classic called “Turn! Turn! Turn” by the Byrds.

The lyrics of the song are taken from the third chapter of the Book of Ecclesiastes. The book falls under the wisdom section of the bible. Here is the full context that inspired the song

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,     a time to search and a time to give up,  a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,    a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

The song came at the heels of the US involvement in Vietnam, as it called for peace in the midst of social change.

The song itself highlights themes of faith that apply to this timeless classic.

Acceptance and Trust

Drawn from Ecclesiastes, the core message of the song talks about ever-changing seasons. The song talked about themes like a time for love, hate, war, and peace.

The best way to navigate these changes is by faith. Faith, as St. Paul reminds us, is “the substance [assurance] of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). We must rely on Christ to help us navigate the seasons of change.

While earthly circumstances change, faith in God will always be the same. He remains faithful even when the going gets rough. St. Ambrose reminds us, “The Lord is always near to all who call upon his help with sincerity, true faith, sure hope, and perfect love.”

Call to Action

The band did add one lyric to the song as a call to action. By the end of the action, Pete Seeger, the writer, inserted “It's not too late to find a way to peace."