Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season) – English Lyrics

• By: The Byrds

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the power of language through 'Turn! Turn! Turn!', a song that bridges ancient scripture with the folk-rock movement of the 1960s. With lyrics sourced directly from the Bible, it offers a unique opportunity to explore poetic, timeless English prose. The song's universal message of peace and its cyclical view of life make it a profound piece of music that is both historically significant and emotionally resonant.

[English]

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

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
turn /tɜːrn/ A2	verb - to move around a central point noun - an act of moving around
season /ˈsiːzən/ A2	noun - a period of the year with particular weather conditions
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the measured or measurable period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues
purpose /ˈpɜːrpəs/ B1	noun - the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists
Heaven /ˈhevən/ B1	noun - the place where God and angels are believed to live
born /bɔːrn/ A2	verb - brought into life
die /daɪ/ A1	verb - to stop living
plant /plænt/ A2	verb - to put a seed or plant into the ground so that it will grow
reap /riːp/ B2	verb - to cut and collect a crop
kill /kɪl/ A2	verb - to cause the death of a person, animal, or plant
heal /hiːl/ B1	verb - to make or become healthy again
laugh /læf/ A2	verb - to make sounds with your voice that show you are happy or think something is funny
weep /wiːp/ B2	verb - to cry
build /bɪld/ A2	verb - to construct (something) by putting parts or materials together
break /breɪk/ A2	verb - to separate into pieces as a result of a blow, shock, or strain
dance /dæns/ A1	verb - to move rhythmically to music
mourn /mɔːrn/ B2	verb - to feel or express sorrow or grief
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of affection verb - feel deep affection for
hate /heɪt/ A2	noun - intense dislike or aversion verb - feel intense dislike for
war /wɔːr/ A2	noun - a state of armed conflict between different nations or groups within a nation.
peace /piːs/ A2	noun - freedom from disturbance; tranquility.

Key Grammar Structures

• To everything (turn, turn, turn)

  ➔ Prepositional Phrase as Introductory Element

  ➔ The preposition "to" introduces the phrase "everything", which serves as an introductory element setting the context for the entire verse. "To" indicates direction or relation.

• There is a season

  ➔ Existential "There is/are"

  ➔ The structure "There is" indicates the existence or presence of something. Here, it introduces the idea of "a season".

• A time to be born, a time to die

  ➔ Infinitive Phrase as Noun

  ➔ The infinitive phrase "to be born" and "to die" functions as a noun, specifying what "a time" is for. The infinitive acts like a noun, describing the purpose or activity related to that time.

• A time to plant, a time to reap

  ➔ Parallel Structure with Infinitives

  ➔ The phrases "a time to plant" and "a time to reap" employ parallel structure, creating a balanced and rhythmic effect. Both "plant" and "reap" are infinitives functioning as nouns and are introduced with "to".

• A time to kill, a time to heal

  ➔ Use of Infinitives Showing Purpose

  ➔ The infinitives "to kill" and "to heal" are used to show the purpose or reason for "a time". The phrase indicates that there is a specific time designated for each action.

• A time to cast away stones

  ➔ Infinitive Clause as Post-Modifier

  ➔ The infinitive clause "to cast away stones" modifies the noun "time", indicating the purpose or activity associated with that specific time. It defines what should be done during that particular "time."

• A time of love, a time of hate

  ➔ Noun Phrase with Preposition "of"

  ➔ The structure "a time of" + noun creates a description of the type of time being referred to. "Of" connects the noun "love" or "hate" to "time", specifying its nature or characteristic. "of" shows relationship.

• A time you may embrace

  ➔ Relative Clause with "may"

  ➔ The phrase "you may embrace" is a reduced relative clause modifying "a time". "May" expresses possibility, suggesting that the embracing is not mandatory but is a potential action during that time. "may" expresses permission or possibility