Sunday, November 19, 2023

"Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)"

Yester-day, I figured out the chords for "Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)" (although what I have may need some refining).  While thinking about the song afterwards, I realized that a section of the chord progression matches the lyrics in a way.  For a good portion of the verses, the chords simply alternate between A major and D major.  Most of the lyrics above these chords list opposites:
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 build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones

A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace

A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sow
A time for love, a time for hate
In the same way that the lyrics go back and forth between opposites, the chords go back and forth between A major and D major.