Popular Folk Song From Yesteryear 'If I Had A Hammer'

Apr 21, 2020 by apost team

‘If I Had a Hammer,’ which is also called ‘The Hammer Song,’ is a folk song that many people remember from their childhood. Pete Seeger and Lee Hays wrote it in 1949 to support the progressive movement. Other artists have performed it since then.

The Weavers, a group that consisted of Hays, Seeger, Fred Hellerman, and Ronnie Gilbert, were the first to record the song. They performed it live for the very first time at a testimonial dinner for the leaders of the US Communist Party. That dinner took place at New York City’s St. Nicholas Arena on June 3, 1949.

The Weavers’ version of the song didn’t enjoy much commercial success, however. ‘If I Had a Hammer’ didn’t become popular or well-known until the group Peter, Paul and Mary recorded a cover of the song in 1962 as part of their eponymous debut album. It earned a spot on the Top 10 and later won the Grammy Awards for Best Performance by a Vocal Group and Best Folk Recording.

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In 1963, Trini Lopez added a cover of ‘If I Had a Hammer’ to his album, “Trini Lopez at PJ’s.” His version of the song climbed to the number three spot of the Top 10 list.

‘If I Had a Hammer’ became one of the songs associated with the civil rights movement. Its popularity led to many people performing covers of it. American singers who covered the song included Leonard Nimoy, Johnny Cash, and Wanda Jackson.

The song soon spread to other countries. In October 1963, the French singer Claude Francois covered the song, which was called ‘Si J’Avais un Marteau.’ Roughly a year later, the Italian singer Rita Pavone performed a version of the song called ‘Datemi un Martello’ (‘Give Me A Hammer’). In 1969, Victor Jara, a singer from Chile, performed the song in Spanish.

Contemporary artists have also performed covers of ‘If I Had a Hammer.’ The husband-and-wife duo Jess & Matt performed one of the more recent examples. In 2018, they included a cover of ‘If I Had a Hammer’ on their album “Songs from the Village.”

What does the song mean? Hays and Seeger had originally written it to support labor unions, and the song converts tools associated with work – the hammer and the bell -- into means of calling for equality. Like the civil rights movement, labor unions also had their share of songs, which explains the third verse’s ‘If I had a song.’ The third verse also encourages people to speak out, and the last verse reminds them that if they already have the tools to fight for equality that they should do so.

‘If I Had a Hammer’ struck a large chord with the civil rights movement. The last verse of the song was particularly meaningful to its proponents. In it, the singer says they have a hammer, bell, and song that they can use to bring justice, freedom, and love to everyone. They announce their intentions to help their "brothers and sisters."

The lasting appeal of ‘I Had a Hammer’ lies in both its simplicity and its message of equality. It has consequently endured for over 70 years and will doubtless last for many more generations.

Do you remember the song ‘If I Had A Hammer?’ What’s your favorite version? Please leave your thoughts in the comments and be sure to pass this article along to others!