For this week’s Song Lyric Sunday, as his post Existential Thoughts tells us, Jim is inviting us to play a song that makes us think about life. My first thought was to go with George Harrison’s What Is Life and the wonderful video that was made for it a few years ago, but I have a feeling I know someone else who may be playing that, so I sought out something else. Two somethings, in fact.
My lead song is one that I’ve loved since I first heard it, way back in 1965:
The song was ‘written’ by Pete Seeger, based on verses from Ecclesiastes in the Bible, but The Byrds did the version I know best. Here are its lyrics:
To everything, turn, turn, turn There is a season, turn, turn, turn And a time to 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
To everything, turn, turn, turn There is a season, turn, turn, turn And a time to every purpose, under heaven
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
To everything, turn, turn, turn There is a season, turn, turn, turn And a time to every purpose under heaven
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
To everything, turn, turn, turn There is a season, turn, turn, turn And a time to every purpose under heaven
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
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Peter Seeger
I’m not a religious person but those words carry tremendous meaning, and I think they really get to the heart of what our existence here on Earth comprises. In just under three minutes everything is covered. Turn! Turn! Turn! was released as a single in the US on 1 October 1965 and in the UK on 29 October – I’ve no idea why there was a delay, but that happened with every record they released, both singles and albums. This topped the US Singles chart but only made #26 here. It was their third single of that year, after MrTambourine Man (US #1, UK #1) and All I Really Want To Do (US #40, UK #4), so that chart placing is surprisingly low for a classic like this. Actually, as far as the UK Singles chart goes, they only had a few further hits, which I’ve always thought of as being an act of criminality by the British record-buying public. Or maybe we saw them as an albums band, as they had a fair deal of success in the UK Albums chart, including with the one on which this was included: Turn! Turn! Turn! (the album) came out in December 1965 in the US and in March 1966 in the UK. It reached #17 in the US but did better here in the UK, where it peaked at #11. Although Pete Seeger takes the writing credit for this most of the lyrics are lifted verbatim from Ecclesiastes. The Biblical text says that there is a time and place for all things: birth and death, killing and healing, sorrow and laughter, war and peace, and so on. The lines are open to interpretation, but Seeger’s song presents them as a plea for world peace with the closing line: “a time for peace, I swear it’s not too late.” This line and the title phrase “Turn! Turn! Turn!” are the only parts of the lyric written by Seeger himself.
I’m playing a second song today. This one looks at life from a retrospective viewpoint, in which the songwriter is telling us about his own life and some memories from it. I expect you will know this one:
Although I think that concert performance is later, Joe Walsh released Life’s Been Good in May 1978 on his fourth album, But Seriously, Folks… which made #8 in the US Albums chart and #16 in the UK. I bought it back then, and played it a lot. The song was released as a single in a trimmed down four minute version, which peaked at #12 in the US and #14 in the UK. It was also featured in the movie FM and was included on the soundtrack album – a double, with some fantastic tracks on it (also part of my collection). This one is far from serious, depicting the rock star lifestyle: Joe satirically reflects on its antics and excesses, with nods to drummer Keith Moon of the Who and others: “I live in hotels, tear out the walls/I have accountants pay for it all”, and “My Maserati does one-eighty-five/I lost my license, now I don’t drive”, based on his own experience. It is a great song and I’ve always liked the way he sends himself and others up. It’s a rather different take on life, but one which I think gets us all to reflect on whether being a rock star is as good a life as it seems. Be honest, we all wanted to be a rock star when we were growing up, didn’t we? Maybe we are better off with our mundane ordinary lives after all!
I promised you two songs, but just before I go, in case Nancy doesn’t play this here is a link to the George Harrison song, with two wonderfully exuberant dancers. I love this!
That’s it from me for today. See you again for Tuesday Tunes, if I can think of a theme by then! 😊
Take It Easy 