Harry Targ
Turn, Turn, Turn
Words from Ecclesiastes, text adapted and music by Pete Seeger
(chorus)
To Everything (Turn, Turn, Turn)
There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn)
And a time for 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
(repeat chorus)
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
(repeat chorus)
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
(repeat chorus)
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time to love, a time to hate
A time for peace, I swear it's not too late
We received a wonderful Chanukah present the other day, a children’s book
called “Turn! Turn! Turn!” It is an illustrated adaptation by designer Wendy
Anderson Halperin, of words from the Old Testament and music by Pete Seeger.
This present rekindled for me emotions, as I am sure it does for others, as I
remembered things past; youth, family, naïve images of peace and tranquility.
There is poignancy for us now too as we move towards the holidays at the same
time that we struggle over the range of issues that will shape the destiny of
humankind: peace, saving the environment, jobs, and health care reform.
This season progressives are debating whether we will be betrayed by the new
administration; whether outgoing President Trump is the biggest scoundrel in US
history or the manifestation of a system;
and more importantly how to build further our peace and justice movements.
But then “Turn, Turn, Turn” reminds us that “to everything there is a season.”
The song suggests that the ebbs and flows of history are not bound by
calendars, dates and times, and heroes and villains. A “season” is defined by
its historic projects.
And these historic projects, the words suggest, include “a time to reap,” “a
time to build,” “a time to break down,” “a time to cast away stones,” and “a
time to gather stones together.”
Our projects, our seasons, entail defeats and victories, tears and laughter but
the seasons go on and encompass “a time to love” and “a time to hate.” And in
the end the song declares, “ I swear it's not too late.”
So if we are inspired by the song, as we were in the 1960s, we remember that
the struggles for peace and justice are not about individuals, political
parties, and calendar deadlines but about the continued commitments which we
have made to create peace, save the planet, put people back to work, and
provide secure health care for all.
