There is a time for every purpose under heaven. ~Biblical Proverb [18919]

In 1959 Pete Seeger compiled these words, along with other lines from the Book of Ecclesiastes, into a folk song. The original recordings met moderate success. But when The Byrds recorded their version of "Turn! Turn! Turn! (to Everything There Is a Season)," the song shot to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song and lyrics were so catchy and easy-to-remember, that it quickly permeated the culture.

Lyrics:
To every thing there is a season,
And a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, a time to reap that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate;
A time of war, and a time of peace
...I swear it's not too late.

The last line and title are the only non-biblical words to the song. With the rest of the lyrics attributed to King Solomon, circa 1011 BC, it could be said that it is now 3,000 years old, making it the oldest "golden-oldie" of all time.