Introduction
The duet of “Turn, Turn, Turn!” by country legend Vern Gosdin and Byrds founder Roger McGuinn first appeared as a studio track on Gosdin’s 1984 album There Is a Season and was later brought to life live on Ralph Emery’s Nashville Now show in 1985. Rooted in Pete Seeger’s folk adaptation of the Book of Ecclesiastes, which frames life as a cycle of seasons , this rendition blends Gosdin’s rich, emotive baritone with McGuinn’s signature twelve-string jangle .
Originally penned by Pete Seeger around 1959 using text from Ecclesiastes, “Turn! Turn! Turn!” set the Bible’s wisdom to folk melody. Its first commercial release came in 1962 on The Limeliters’ Folk Matinee album, where one of the backing musicians was a young Jim McGuinn (later Roger). The song gained global fame when The Byrds transformed it into a folk-rock anthem, taking it to No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in October 1965 .
Vern Gosdin—known affectionately as “The Voice” for his deep, resonant delivery—enjoyed 19 top-10 country hits between 1977 and 1990 . In 1984, he invited his friend Roger McGuinn of The Byrds to join him on a heartfelt studio duet of “Turn! Turn! Turn!” for There Is a Season. Their collaboration paid tribute to folk traditions while firmly planting the song in a country context.
A year later, on Nashville Now (1985), McGuinn joined Gosdin onstage to back him on guitar and harmonies during a live TV performance. Against the warm glow of the studio lights, Gosdin’s heartfelt vocals and McGuinn’s twelve-string riffs wove together seamlessly, creating a moment that felt both nostalgic and brand-new.
“Turn! Turn! Turn!” speaks to the universal ebb and flow of life—birth and death, joy and sorrow—and this rendition deepens that message through genuine camaraderie. Whether you’re reflecting on a personal crossroads or simply marveling at the passing seasons, Gosdin and McGuinn’s collaboration reminds us that great songs become touchstones for our own stories.