Two Biblical Songs
TURN, TURN, TURN
This song, by Pete Seeger ("Where Have All the Flowers Gone?"), was adapted from the book of Ecclesiastes (3:1-8) and became a big hit for The Byrds in the 1960s. Seeger added his warning at the end, "I swear it's not too late." Go here.
TURN, TURN, TURN
This song, by Pete Seeger ("Where Have All the Flowers Gone?"), was adapted from the book of Ecclesiastes (3:1-8) and became a big hit for The Byrds in the 1960s. Seeger added his warning at the end, "I swear it's not too late." Go here.
Words-adapted from The Bible, book of Ecclesiastes
Music-Pete Seeger
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
THIS OLE HOUSE
This song was originally written as a Gospel song but somehow ended up as an uptempo novelty song, with little of the sense of gravity of its subject: the death of an old person. Though its songwriter to my knowledge never mentioned it, the imagery seems taken almost directly from the book of Ecclesiastes, 12:1ff, the great meditation on death. As an uptempo novelty song it reached #1 in 1954, and reached #1 again (on the British charts) when covered by Shakin' Stevens in the early 1980s. The US hit version, by Rosemary Clooney, can be heard here. The recording by the song's writer, Stuart Hamblin, can be heard here.
This ole house once knew his children
This ole house once knew his wife
This ole house was home and comfort
As they fought the storms of life
This old house once rang with laughter
This old house heard many shouts
Now he trembles in the darkness
When the lightnin' walks about
[Chorus]
Ain't a-gonna need this house no longer
Ain't a-gonna need this house no more
Ain't got time to fix the shingles
Ain't got time to fix the floor
Ain't got time to oil the hinges
Nor to mend the window-pane
Ain't a-gonna need this house no longer
He's a-gettin' ready to meet the saints
This ole house is a-gettin' shaky
This ole house is a-gettin' old
This ole house lets in the rain
This ole house lets in the cold
Oh his knees are-a gettin' chilly
But he feel no fear or pain
'Cause he sees an angel peekin'
Through a broken window-pane
[Chorus]
This ole house is afraid of thunder
This ole house is afraid of storms
This ole house just groans and trembles
When the night wind flings its arms
This ole house is a-gettin' feeble
This old house is a-needin' paint
Just like him it's tuckered out
But he's a-gettin' ready to meet the saints
[Chorus]
Ain't a-gonna need this house no longer
Ain't a-gonna need this house no more
Ain't got time to fix the shingles
Ain't got time to fix the floor
Ain't got time to oil the hinges
Nor to mend the window-pane
Ain't a-gonna need this house no longer
He's a-gettin' ready to meet the saints
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment