The Byrds--Turn! Turn! Turn! (1965)

     By late 1965, The Byrds had two hits, one of them going to #1, and were looking for a song to release as their 3rd single. The group named, "The Jet Set" just a year before had crafted their electric mix of Beatles pop and Dylan folk into their own sound. Mixing in with this the beautiful harmonies of Roger McGuinn, David Crosby, Gene Clark, and Chris Hillman and it looked like, at the time, a group that had staying power.
     They turned to a song that had been adapted by folk singer, Pete Seeger in 1959. "Turn, Turn, Turn" was taken from the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament of the Bible. Chapter 3, vereses 1--8 read like this:


1. To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, a time to reap that which is planted;
3. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. 
5. A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time
    to refrain from embracing.
6. A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7. A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8. A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

     Seeger wrote the song in 59, but didn't record it himself until 1962, but his own recording was preceded a few months by a group called, "The Limelighters" who released their own version. A member of that group was one Jim McGuinn, who later changed his name to Roger. and brought the beauty of the song with him to The Byrds. Judy Collins would also have her own cover of the song for her third album in 1963.   
     It became the second number 1 of the year for The Byrds. They never reached the top 10 with a song again, and the members of the band shuffled constantly (except for McGuinn), but as opposed to hurting the group, it's focus would shift in another direction without a major loss in quality. This is why, looking over 40 years back, one could claim that The Byrds were one of a handful of 60's bands, who's influence can still be heard today not only in rock, but in folk, and country music.