Turn turn turn ecclesiastes chapter 3

Song Analysis Worksheet

Student Name: Sally Seeger

Course and Section #: Music 307 #2

Semester and Year: Fall 2014

Part I. Info

Artist Name: The Byrds

Song Title: Turn! Turn! Turn!

Composer Name: Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 adapted by Pete Seeger

Album Title: Turn! Turn! Turn!

Record Label: Columbia

Year of Release: 1965

Personnel and Instrumentation:

Jim McGuinn – lead guitar, vocals

Gene Clark – rhythm guitar, tambourine, vocals

David Crosby - rhythm guitar, vocals

Chris Hillman – electric bass

Michael Clarke - drums

Part II. Lyrics and Structure

Analyze the structure of the song. Include the complete lyrics and add appropriate headings and bar numbering for each section (Intro, Verse, Chorus, Bridge etc.)

Time Signature: Cut Time

Tempo: half note = 62BPM

Intro (8 bars)

Chorus (9 bars)

To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn) There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn) And a time to every purpose, under Heaven

Verse 1 (10 bars) 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

Chorus (9 bars) To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn) There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn) And a time to every purpose, under Heaven

Verse 2 (10 bars) 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

Chorus (9 bars) To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn) There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn) And a time to every purpose, under Heaven Verse 3 (10 bars)

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

Chorus (Instrumental)

Verse 4 (Instrumental)

Chorus (9 bars) To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn) There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn) And a time to every purpose, under Heaven

Verse 5 (10 bars) 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

Tag (16 bars) fade out

Part III.

Write a detailed response for each question.

1. Why does this song interest you?

The text is unusual for pop music. It’s the most commercially successful setting of an Old Testament text. The Byrd’s arrangement adds excitement and accessibility to timeless words and Seeger’s melody. The picking style of the twelve string guitar seems to echo Seeger’s own banjo picking.

2. What do the lyrics mean?

The lyrics were adapted by Pete Seeger from Ecclesiastes Chapter 3, a religious text common to the Hebrew Torah and the Christian Old Testament and often attributed to King Solomon. The chorus emphasizes the cyclical nature of life. Seeger’s only addition to the biblical text is the final line of verse five, “I swear it's not too late.” In the context of 1965, it can be heard as an appeal to end the Vietnam War. However, the lyrics are not strictly pacifist, acknowledging in verse one that there is, “a time to kill, a time to heal.” It is unusual for public statements of religious texts because it does not encourage a specific moral view or action. Instead it suggests that it is the timing and context of an action that makes it appropriate. The lyrics call for patience and reserving judgment.

3. Describe the music.

One of the musical features of the song is a rhythmic juxtaposition of two against three. The introduction establishes a duple meter (cut time) and a two bar phrase structure over a syncopated accompaniment that features accents on every third note. The “jangly” sound of the twelve-string guitar is really describing a broken chord eighth note pattern in the lead guitar. The instrumental verse offers a rather conservative interpretation of the melody. An unusual feature of this song is the odd number of measures in each section of the form: the chorus has nine bas while the verse has ten. Also, the song begins with the chorus rather than the verse.

4. How does this song demonstrate the characteristics of a particular style?

The Byrds are identified as one of the pioneers of folk rock. Folk rock is characterized by “serious” lyrics and electric instruments, or more simply, electric covers of folk songs. Folk music in turn could be described as old songs played by small ensembles on acoustic instruments.

5. How does this song compare to others by the same or similar artists?

The title track of the Byrd’s second bum was an electric cover of a folk song by Pete Seeger. The title track of their first album was a cover of a Bob Dylan’s Mr. Tambourine Man. Both songs demonstrate the Byrd’s interest in “serious” lyrics, yet their vocal delivery is smooth and relaxed. They also add twelve string electric guitars. Compared to Seeger’s version, the Byrd’s interpretation is more metrical.