If I Had a Hammer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"If I Had a Hammer" 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 comprised of Seeger, Hays, Ronnie Gilbert and Fred Hellerman.

The song was not particularly successful when it was first released, likely due in part to the political climate of the time. It fared notably better when it was recorded by Peter, Paul, and Mary more than a decade later. Their cover of the song, released in August of 1962, became a Top 10 hit. The song has since been recorded by dozens of major artists, including a version by Trini Lopez on his 1963 album Trini Lopez at PJ's, as well as one by Leonard Nimoy, which appeared on his 1968 release The Way I Feel. A more recent example is the reggae-style cover released by BBC personality Handy Andy, which was not particularly well received.

It was an anthem of the Civil Rights Movement and covered by dozens of major artists. It also was a common selection for "folk masses" in Catholic Churches.

[edit] External resources

• Lyrics on Arlo Guthrie website
• A collection of quotes about "If I Had A Hammer"
• Pete Seeger - If I Had a Hammer
• If I Had A Hammer at YouTube - vignettes of several recordings