If I Had a Hammer
Nanci Griffith & Friends Lyrics
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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 the love between my brothers and my sisters
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
But I'd ring out love between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land
If I had a song
I'd sing it in the morning
I'd sing it in the evening all over this land
I'd sing out danger
I'd sing out a warning
I'd sing out love between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land
Well I got a hammer
And I got a bell
And I got a song to sing all over this land
It's the hammer of justice
It's the bell of freedom
And it's the song about love between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land
The lyrics to "If I Had a Hammer" by Nanci Griffith, originally written by Pete Seeger and Lee Hayes, convey a message of unity and peace. The song speaks of the desire to use the tools of a hammer, bell, and song as a means of spreading a message of love, warning, and danger to all individuals in the land. The hammer symbolizes the power to build and create, while also being able to destroy and dismantle unjust systems. The bell represents the ability to make noise, to catch people's attention by ringing out danger and warning. However, it is meant to also symbolize the love that can connect individuals in society. The song, on the other hand, represents the power of music to unite the masses.
The repeated line of "All over this land" reinforces the idea that the message is for everyone, no matter where they are. The final verse of the song, "Well I got a hammer, and I got a bell, and I got a song to sing all over this land, It's the hammer of justice, it's the bell of freedom, And it's the song about love between my brothers and my sisters all over this land," brings the theme of the song full circle. By using the hammer, bell, and song to spread a message of justice, freedom, and love, individuals can work together to create a harmonious society.
Line by Line Meaning
If I had a hammer
If I possessed any means of effecting change
I'd hammer in the morning
I'd start working on it early and persistently
I'd hammer in the evening all over this land
I'd work until the goal is achieved across the entire country
I'd hammer out danger
I'd eradicate danger
I'd hammer out a warning
I'd provide a warning
I'd hammer out the love between my brothers and my sisters
I'd promote love and unity among fellow human beings
If I had a bell
If I had a means to communicate a message
I'd ring it in the morning
I'd start communicating the message early
I'd ring it in the evening all over this land
I'd communicate the message until it reaches every corner of the country
I'd ring out danger
I'd eliminate danger through communication
I'd ring out a warning
I'd communicate the warning
But I'd ring out love between my brothers and my sisters
But my primary message would be promoting love and unity
If I had a song
If I had a means to express a message creatively
I'd sing it in the morning
I'd start expressing the message early
I'd sing it in the evening all over this land
I'd keep expressing the message until it reaches all corners of the country
I'd sing out danger
I'd alert about the danger through the song
I'd sing out a warning
I'd provide a warning through the song
I'd sing out love between my brothers and my sisters
I'd use the song to promote love and unity among people
Well I got a hammer
Well, I have found the means of effecting change
And I got a bell
And I have the means to communicate a message
And I got a song to sing all over this land
And I have a creative means of expressing a message that can reach every corner of the country
It's the hammer of justice
It's a means of bringing about justice
It's the bell of freedom
It's a means of promoting freedom
And it's the song about love between my brothers and my sisters
And it's the creative message about promoting love and unity among people
All over this land
Across the entire country
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Tratore, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lee Hays, Pete Seeger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind