If I Had a Hammer

Peter, Paul and Mary

About If I Had a Hammer

"If I Had a Hammer (The Hammer Song)" is a song written by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays. It was written in 1949 in support of the progressive movement, and was first recorded by The Weavers, a folk music quartet composed of Seeger, Hays, Ronnie Gilbert, and Fred Hellerman. It was a number 10 hit for Peter, Paul and Mary in 1962 and then went to number three a year later when recorded by Trini Lopez. The Weavers released the song under the title "The Hammer Song" as a 78 single in March 1950 on Hootenanny Records, 101-A, backed with "Banks of Marble".  


Year:
2012
52 

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If I had a hammer,
I'd hammer in the morning,
I'd hammer in the evening,
All over this land,

I'd hammer out danger,
I'd hammer out a warning,
I'd hammer out love between,
My brothers and my sisters,

All over this land.
If I had a bell,
I'd ring it in the morning,
I'd ring it in the evening,

All over this land,
I'd ring out danger,
I'd ring out a warning,
I'd ring out love between,

My brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.

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Peter, Paul and Mary

Peter, Paul and Mary were a US folk-singing trio whose nearly 50-year career began with their rise to become a paradigm for 1960s folk music. The trio was composed of Peter Yarrow, Paul Stookey and Mary Travers. After the death of Mary Travers in 2009, Yarrow and Stookey continued to perform as a duo under their individual names. more »

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Written by: LEE HAYS, PETE SEEGER

Lyrics © Tratore, T.R.O. INC.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song's Origin
"If I Had a Hammer" was originally written by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays in 1949. - The song was first recorded and released by their group, The Weavers.
Specific Themes
The song contains themes of progressive change, the struggle for workers’ rights, and the Civil Rights Movement.
Pete Seeger's Perspective
Seeger often declared that he hoped the song would be used by groups struggling for freedom.
Peter, Paul and Mary Version
The folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary also made a popular recording of this song which contributed to its widespread popularity. - Their version was a top 10 hit in the US in 1962.
Trini Lopez Version
Trini Lopez recorded a live cover of this song at the nightclub PJ's in Hollywood in 1963. - This version reached number one on the Billboard Easy Listening charts and was a top 3 hit on the Pop charts.
Impact on Society
The song became one of the anthems of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s as well as a symbol of the international peace movement. - In 1982, the song was performed at a rally attended by more than half a million anti-nuclear protesters in New York City's Central Park.
Recognition
"If I Had a Hammer" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2006, highlighting its significant impact on American music.
Interpretation
Many interpret the song's hammer, bell, and song to symbolize the tools of social justice or revolution.
Covers by Other Artists
Apart from Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul and Mary, and Trini Lopez, multiple well-known artists have also covered "If I Had a Hammer," such as Leonard Nimoy, Aretha Franklin, and Johnny Cash pointing at its enduring appeal.
International Influence
The song has been translated into many languages and recorded by musicians all around the world, reflecting its global impact.

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