Turn! Turn! Turn!
Turn! Turn! Turn!: The Folk Rock Anthem Makers
Turn! Turn! Turn! is the performing name for the American folk rock song famously recorded by The Byrds. The track, adapted from the Book of Ecclesiastes by folk singer Pete Seeger, became a defining anthem of the 1960s. Its success is marked by reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in late 1965, cementing its place in rock history.
Early career
The story of Turn! Turn! Turn! begins not with a band, but with the pen of activist and folk musician Pete Seeger. In the late 1950s, Seeger adapted text from the Bible, setting the verses to a gentle, cyclical folk melody. The song was first commercially recorded by the folk group The Limeliters in 1962, but it was the evolving Los Angeles music scene that would provide its iconic incarnation.
Breakthrough
The major breakthrough arrived in 1965 via the pioneering folk rock band The Byrds. Signed to Columbia Records, the band transformed Seeger's folk tune into a jangly, 12-string guitar-driven rock anthem. Their single Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) was released in October 1965 and soared to the top of the Billboard charts by December, becoming the group's second number-one hit.
Key tracks
Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) — The Byrds' recording is the definitive version, a chart-topping folk rock landmark that defined a generation's sound.
The Bells of Rhymney — Another Pete Seeger adaptation by The Byrds, this track from the same era showcased their signature jangle and harmony formula.
Mr. Tambourine Man — While not the "Turn! Turn! Turn!" song itself, this earlier 1965 hit by The Byrds established the template that made their subsequent folk rock adaptations so successful.
The legacy of the song Turn! Turn! Turn! extends far beyond its initial chart success. It has been covered by countless artists across genres, from folk and rock to country and gospel, and its message continues to resonate. The track is frequently featured in films and documentaries about the 1960s, ensuring its status as a cultural touchstone.
Fans of the jangly, harmony-rich sound of Turn! Turn! Turn! should explore similar artists from the same fertile era. The Byrds are, of course, the essential starting point, the band that crafted the iconic recording. The Mamas & The Papas delivered intricate vocal harmonies within the same West Coast folk pop scene. The Beau Brummels offered a similarly melodic and guitar-oriented take on the mid-60s folk rock genre. Simon & Garfunkel mastered the art of poetic lyricism and close harmony, defining the folk rock movement from the East Coast.
The music of Turn! Turn! Turn! and the artists who popularized it remain a staple on classic rock FM stations and dedicated 60s music channels. These radio stations consistently feature the song in rotations celebrating folk rock's greatest anthems and pivotal musical moments.
You can hear the timeless folk rock of Turn! Turn! Turn! on radio stations featured here on onairium.com. Explore our curated selection of stations to discover this iconic track and the rich musical era it represents.
