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“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 byThe Weavers, a folk music quartet composed of Seeger, Hays, Ronnie Gilbert and FredHellerman, and then by Peter, Paul and Mary.The song was not particularly successful when it was first released, likely due in part tothe 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 of1962, 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, which reachedNo. 3 in the U.S., as well as one by Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock), which appeared on his1968 release “The Way I Feel”.The song “If I Had a Hammer” was a Civil Rights anthem of the American Civil Rightsmovement and covered by dozens of major artists, including Sam Cooke, who recordedthe song in concert. It also was a common selection for “folk masses” in CatholicChurches.If I had a hammerI’d hammer in the morningI’d hammer in the eveningAll over this landI’d hammer out dangerI’d hammer out a warningI’d hammer out love between my brothers and my sistersAll over this landIf I had a bellI’d ring it in the morningI’d ring it in the eveningAll over this landI’d ring out dangerI’d ring out a warningI’d ring out love between my brothers and my sistersAll over this landIf I had a songI’d sing it in the morningI’d sing it in the eveningAll over this landI’d sing out dangerI’d sing out a warningI’d sing out love between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land
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Well I’ve got a hammerAnd I’ve got a bellAnd I’ve got a song to singAll over this landIt’s the hammer of justiceIt’s the bell of freedomIt’s the song about love between my brothers and my sistersAll over this land
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https://www.facebook.com/app_scoped_user_id/1203673049655786/ Mark Breedlove