Well, that is a tough question. The iconic Turn! Turn! Turn! probably has a lot of co-authors.

“Pete Seeger, along with the folk missionaries Leadbelly, Woody Guthrie, Lee Hays and Odetta, has sung authentic American folk songs for so many years that his own compositions resemble them. He wrote ‘Turn! Turn! Turn!’ in 1962, basing the text on verses of the third chapter of the Bible’s Book of Ecclesiastes; the three ‘turn’s’ of the title are in fact the only non-biblical words [in the song].” —100 Favorite Songs Of Faith, Friendship And Love

Likely, the singer, poet and activist Pete Seeger literally wrote a melody to the verses found in the third chapter of the Bible’s Book of Ecclesiastes. And because by most all accounts the Bible, including the Book of Ecclesiastes, was written by multiple scribes, perhaps over a period of many many years, the song has many authors.

So, Turn! Turn! Turn! is a co-write, if you will, between Pete Seeger, King Solomon, perhaps some of the spawn of King Solomon, and who knows what others.

But credit the great Pete Seeger with setting the beautiful verses of the Book of Ecclesiastes to music.

“Turn! Turn! Turn!” was originally recorded by Seeger’s popular folk group, The Weavers (which included Seeger, Hays, Fred Hillerman and Ronnie Gilbert).

But credit another musical group with popularizing globally the timely (it was produced in the socially turbulent mid-1960s) anthem. It was the jingly-jangly guitar sounds—contrasted with sweet sweet harmonies—that made The Byrds’ version of Turn! Turn! Turn! a #1 hit in 1965, their second #1 after taking Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tamborine Man” to the top of the charts with the same musical formula.

“Turn! Turn! Turn!” is one of the most famous “socially conscious” songs of the sixties and has been recorded by many performers, including Dolly Parton, Judy Collins and Nina Simone. It was also prominently featured in the 1994 multi-Academy Award winning motion picture, Forrest Gump.

Turn! Turn! Turn! Lyrics

(Words from the Book of Ecclesiastes, Music by 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 war, a time of peace
A time to love, a time to hate
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 sow
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it’s not too late