Origins: Turn, Turn, Turn (Pete Seeger)

Subject: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: GUEST,Marcellin Chiasson
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 06:13 PM

Hi:

Does anyone know all the lyrics to the Song, Turn, Turn, Turn by the Beatles? Thanks a million.

Marcellin chiasson, Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia, Canada e-mail [[e-mail]]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: Sorcha
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 06:41 PM

I thought it was by the Byrds, and it is almost verbatim from Ecclesiates, in the Christian Bible. 1st chapter, forget which verses, Bible is locked in the bedroom with the sleeping MR. I know someone can give them to you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: GUEST,Steve
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 06:41 PM

Are you sure the Beatles did it? I've heard The Byrds do Turn, Turn, Turn and I believe Pete Seeger wrote that version. I'm a pretty big Beatles fan but I don't recall them doing it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: Mbo
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 06:45 PM

You can get the lyrics in the Digital Tradition on this site, right here. And yes, the Byrds did sing it, not the Fab 4.

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: Sorcha
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 06:48 PM

Synchronistic postings again...........

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: GUEST,The Burren ranger
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 06:51 PM

Turn, Turn Turn was recorded by the Byrds..most def. not the Beatles. TBR

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: catspaw49
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 07:25 PM

...uh, yeah............

The song was adapted from Eccleiastes by Pete Seeger and Roger McGuinn and the Byrd's had the hit with it. As Meebo has linked, it is in the Database. There are also a couple of previous threads.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 08:51 PM

Pete Seeger wrote it from Ecclesiastes.

When the Byrds did their version, I suppose Roger McGuinn would adjusted it a bit. And the Beatles never did it that I've heard.

And if you want to sing it, I'd advise using Pete Seeger's version as your jumping-off place, rather than the Byrds.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: The Lighthouse
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 08:56 PM

The Beatles NEVER did this song. I would put loads and loads of cash on that bet! The Byrds did that one and yes it was from Pete Seeger who also somehow gave us "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". Of course his version wasn't a New York a-capella with opera singers set to the African folk tune!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: Mbo
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 09:14 PM

OK geez! They guy made a simple mistake! Don't rub it in!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 09:26 PM

Actually,Marcellin is right, there were no Byrds. It was just another elaborate practical joke perpetrated by John Lennon. He and McCartney had just had a hit called Michelle under the pseudonym David and Jonathan, and thought it would "shove a sapling up the Queen's knickers" to write and perform music as an "American" pop group. This was right before Paul died and was replaced by a 23 year old milkman from Wrexham.

There was also no Pete Seeger, but that's another story...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: Amos
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 09:28 PM

Oh, Leej, you can't be Seegerious!

A

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: Sorcha
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 09:29 PM

Oh good heavens. Wasn't it Linda who died? (sorry, dumb statement/joke) At least it was Ecclesiastes........which was read at my Dad's funeral service.

Subject: Vanity of Vanities
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 09:32 PM

"Turn Turn Turn" (except for those three words) comes from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.
I wonder if anybody has tried to make a song out of the beginning of Ecclesiastes:

Vanity of Vanities, saith the Preacher,
Vanity of Vanities, all is vanity.

Don't ponder that too long...

So, tell me, what the heck do the words "turn, turn, turn" have to do with the rest of the song?

-Joe Offer, suffering a sizzling Sacramento summer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: catspaw49
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 09:40 PM

No Joe......but I think Tom Wolfe made a bonfire out of it though.

And Leej, you've certainly hit on something. I've said for years that McGuinn isn't real but is one of those dolls in the rear window of a lo-rider with its head bobbing up and down.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: Mbo
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 09:42 PM

Sounds familiar! When they asked Oasis if they could give Queen Elizabeth any present for her upcoming birthday, what would it be? They said "A kick in the arse!"

--Matt

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: Bugsy
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 09:47 PM

Let me be the first to say:

I think this song was recorded by "THE BYRDS" - Not "THE BEATLES".

Maybe someone could corroborate this for me!

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: catspaw49
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 09:51 PM

Sorry Bugsy......We all hate to commit to something like that. I would suggest a search on DJListserv and see what kind of responce you get there. Check back after you get out of the hospital.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: bob jr
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 10:33 PM

if you like the byrds version there is no way you will like pete seegers version

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 11:13 PM

If you like the original, you might not like Pete's adaptation. If you like Pete's you might not like McGuinn's...but get this, Pete LOVED the Byrds treatment. Myself, I was never a big fan of the song.

Rick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: bob jr
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 11:25 PM

rick are you following me? i dont want to give anyone the wrong idea i like pete seeger a great deal and the bryds too i just think the two listening experiences in this case are totally different (and i like the byrds version better ,the tastey guitar intro the nice harmonies,of course now when i hear it all i think about is the simpsons "wonder years" take off and laugh my head off)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: Sorcha
Date: 21 Jul 00 - 11:44 PM

Joe, I always kind of thought that the Turn,turn, turn was a reference to things turning and changing, like the turning of the seasons, or the turning of the seasons of life........I've been wrong before, though.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: john c
Date: 22 Jul 00 - 01:05 AM

So now we know - The Byrds it was. But just listen to The Beatles singing If I Needed Someone and you´ll realise what an easy mistake it is to make.
All the best,
J.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Jul 00 - 04:56 AM

Well, Sorcha, that's about the same idea I had - Ecclesiastes, Siddhartha, and the Great Mandalla all bound together into one happy circle....

It was from the sixties, after all.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: GUEST,Ed Pellow
Date: 22 Jul 00 - 05:42 AM

John,

The guitar riff in the Beatles song "If I needed someone" comes from the Byrds version of "The Bells Of Rhymney"

George Harrison was happy to admit it

Ed

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: gillymor
Date: 22 Jul 00 - 07:22 AM

I don't want to step on any toes here but I'm pretty it was the Rutles, or perhaps Klaatu (sp).

F

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: Peter T.
Date: 22 Jul 00 - 10:23 AM

I thought the Byrds was by Daphne du Maurier. (just adding to the vague dopiness of this thread. It must be July).

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 22 Jul 00 - 12:46 PM

The Byrd's version of Turnx3 had three things going for it- *soaring harmony, which McGuinn's nasal voice kept from becoming insipidly sweet * A great drum track, which Michael Clarke was capable of on occasion(see Eight Miles High) * and McGuinn playing his distinctive 12 string Rickenbacker over the driving beat in one of his best solos.

I like Pete's version, too, for the warmth and good-feeling of his singing. The meaning of the song comes across more clearly in Pete's.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: catspaw49
Date: 22 Jul 00 - 04:14 PM

It was interesting too that on the Kennedy Center Honors program, McGuinn (replete with bobbing head adnRickenbacker 12) sang the song for Seeger's section. That whole thing was pretty strange though with Pete being honored and Arlo performing...........

Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 22 Jul 00 - 04:42 PM

Didn't see that, Spaw, but I can imagine. In his mid-fifties, Roger McGuinn must find himself in a pretty odd position. A contemporary of Dylan, Ochs, Hardin, Bok and others, he is still not really accepted by the Folk Community because of his previous "Rock Star" status. And that's a shame, because I think Roger's done a hell of a lot for folk and traditional music, not the least contribution being his helping to introduce it to a mass audience.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: Ed Pellow
Date: 22 Jul 00 - 05:03 PM

Lonesome EJ,

I didn't realise that McGuinn was seen it that way. As far as I'm aware he isn't here in the UK.

I agree with your comments, he's done a lot for folk. I love his folk den website, a new recording of a traditional song every month in various audio formats, along with chords and lyrics. All for free

Ed

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 22 Jul 00 - 05:21 PM

Lonesome EJ,

Which folk community is not accepting of Roger McGuinn? It seems to me that Roger is very much of the folk music community.

My own experiences with Roger have been very positive. In the 1980s, when I was running a folk club in Montreal, he came and played there. His concerts were a mix of Byrds material, that he played on an acoustic 12-string, and traditional folk songs. His audience was mostly folk music fans (and artists).

And in 1998 when he came back to Montreal, he did a long guest spot on my folk music radio program.

Ed Pellow mentioned Roger's Folk Den website. It's all about promoting traditional folk songs.

Roger's next album is going to be all traditional folk songs, all in acoustic arrangements and including duets with Joan Baez, Tommy Makem, Pete Seeger, Jean Ritchie, Odetta and Judy Collins.

Mike Regenstreif

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: Mbo
Date: 22 Jul 00 - 05:30 PM

Roger is also good friends with Jeff Lynne. Infact, the title of Roger's album Back From Rio is a tribute to the Jeff Lynne song "Goin' Down To Rio." There is also a tiny sampling of "Goin' Down To Rio" used as an instrumental bridge between 2 of the songs...

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 22 Jul 00 - 06:24 PM

Mike, it could be just my perception about McGuinn not being accepted by serious folkies. It is certain that he is doing much for the preservation of traditional music at this time. The Folk Den is indeed a wonderful resource on the net, and I look forward to his next album with those great musicians.

My impression is that The Byrds are often looked on as a group that bastardized folk into rock for commercial purposes. I know that many at the time saw them that way. I for one believe that many of their covers of Dylan, Seeger and others transcended the original artist's work.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 22 Jul 00 - 06:38 PM

I'm not sure who you mean by "serious folkies," unless it's the same people that are still mad about Dylan's electric set at Newport in 1965. I really don't think that accounts for too many people any more.

MR

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: Peter T.
Date: 22 Jul 00 - 07:12 PM

Were any of those people serious folkies? Did they think Doc Watson wouldn't touch an electric guitar, or Muddy Waters? Surely this must be the weirdest of old legends -- never made any sense the first time around.

yours, Peter T.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 22 Jul 00 - 07:30 PM

Well, Peter, I would consider some of our resident Mudcatters to be "serious folkies",like Art Thieme, Frank Hamilton, Sandy Paton,and Kendall, and I would be very curious to hear their reactions to the "folk rock" movement, and the Byrds' music. My guess is that they may still have some objections to the idea of Wild Mountain Thyme with electric guitars and drums.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 22 Jul 00 - 07:42 PM

Frank Hamilton collaborates with Roger McGuinn.

MR

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 22 Jul 00 - 07:53 PM

Aha! So he is the same Frank Hamilton I saw on McGuinn's page. Guess we can put Frank in the Byrds' corner then.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: bob jr
Date: 22 Jul 00 - 11:55 PM

lonesome ej is right these are the folks bob wrote positvely 4th street about and they still dont get it ....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 23 Jul 00 - 02:11 AM

Speaking for myself, Lonesome, anyone can do anything they care to do with music. If I don't like it, I don't have to listen to it. Simple as that.

Sandy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Jul 00 - 02:23 AM

way back up there, Joe Offer, wondered if anyone had ever used the begining of Ecclesiastes, with the Vanity and all...you said not to ponder too long, Joe. Fortunately, it came to me a flash...I could just hear it....Carly Simon....You're so vain...you probably think this song is about you! **BG**

Way back when I was in Job's Daughter's, an organisation for young girls, related to the Masons, I was on the fast track to becoming Honoured Queen. Each HQ reigns for 6 months and has a theme for her time, usually focussed around the giving social work she wants to accomplish. Turn, turn, turn was going to be my theme song. I still really love this song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 12:29 AM

I think the Beatles' connection came from this: back in the 60's there was a young Welsh lassie named Mary Hopkin (no "s") who had a hit with this song. She had been the winner on a talent show called Opportunity Knocks, and had been immediately snapped up by the Beatles management, who handled her career, with personal assists and arrangements from Paul McC. himself. She also had a big hit with Those Were The Days. All the best. Seamus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 12:40 AM

That's it, Seamus!! I have the 45 rpm of her doing it and had totally forgotten! I think it would've been 1968/69, as that is when I would've been thinking of using it. Thanks!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: Ritchie
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 08:08 AM

What I find strange...nay spooky...is that neither 'The Birds nor The Beetles' would probably have amounted to nought if it had not have been for a simple typing mistake.

It just goes to show how sometimes great things can come about by a slip of the pen...or keyboard.

regards ritchie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 11:42 AM

Ritchie: oh no! Illiteracy thread creep; here we go again. Kat, you can't possibly be old enough to remember Mary Hopkin. Catspaw, you're getting slow; I thought you would have jumped all over the (no "s") qualifier. Seamus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: catspaw49
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 11:49 AM

Sorry Seamus....its an old age thing.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: Dorrie
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 12:55 PM

travis maybe? "if you turn, turn, turn, turn, turn, you might learn, lea-------rn to tur------n"?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 01:02 PM

Ah, Seamus, that kinda comment'll get ya everywhere!*bg* I was on the shy side of 16...LOL!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Song Turn, Turn, Turn by Beatles
From: Kim C
Date: 24 Jul 00 - 03:40 PM

I just got some really groovy blue sunglasses. Now I need me a Rickenbacker.

It's like the Shakers once said.... by turning, turning we come round right.