If I Had a Hammer
Paul and Mary Peter 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 love between
My brothers and my sisters
All over this land, uh

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, oh

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 song of out a warning
I'd sing out love between
My brothers and my sisters
All over this land, oh

Well, I've got a hammer
And I've got a bell
And I've got a song to sing
All over this land
It's the hammer of justice
It's the bell of freedom
It's a song about love between
My brothers and my sisters
All over this land
It's a hammer of justice
It's a bell of freedom




It's a song about love between my brothers and my sisters
All over this land

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Peter, Paul, and Mary's song "If I Had a Hammer" embody a call to action for social justice, freedom, and equality. The hammer symbolizes the act of taking action and making change, starting early in the morning and continuing late into the evening, all across the land. The hammer represents a tool that can be used to hammer out danger and warn others of harmful situations, but also to build something new that brings people together in love and unity.


The bell signifies a call to action, announcing the danger and warning people of the need to make a change. The bell is also symbolic of freedom and equality, as it signals the victory of the abolition of slavery and the ongoing fight for civil rights, where freedom means the right to exist without oppression.


Finally, the song symbolizes the power of music to inspire people to action. The lyrics affirm that the singer would use their song to sing out not only danger and warning, but also love between brothers and sisters throughout the land. The song is a call to action for people to come together, take action and make a difference.


Overall, "If I Had a Hammer" is a powerful anthem for social justice and equality that continues to inspire generations of activists and ordinary people to work towards a better future for all.


Line by Line Meaning

If I had a hammer
If I had the power to change the world


I'd hammer in the morning
I'd start early and work hard


I'd hammer in the evening
I'd keep going even after the sun goes down


All over this land
Everywhere, not just in one place


I'd hammer out danger
I'd work to eliminate things that are harmful


I'd hammer out a warning
I'd raise awareness and prepare people for danger


I'd hammer out love between my brothers and my sisters
I'd work to promote love and unity among all people


If I had a bell
If I had a way to get people's attention


I'd ring it in the morning
I'd use it to start the day off right


I'd ring it in the evening
I'd use it to signal the end of the day


I'd ring out danger
I'd sound the alarm to warn people of danger


I'd ring out a warning
I'd give people the information they need to stay safe


I'd ring out love between my brothers and my sisters
I'd use it to spread a message of love and unity


If I had a song
If I had a way to express myself and connect with others


I'd sing it in the morning
I'd use it to start the day off right


I'd sing it in the evening
I'd use it to bond with others after a long day


I'd sing out danger
I'd use it to warn people of danger


I'd sing out a warning
I'd use it to give people the information they need to stay safe


I'd sing out love between my brothers and my sisters
I'd use it to promote love and unity among all people


Well, I've got a hammer
I have the power to make a difference


And I've got a bell
I have a way to get people's attention


And I've got a song to sing
I have a way to express myself and connect with others


It's the hammer of justice
I'll use my power to promote justice and equality


It's the bell of freedom
I'll use my voice to promote freedom and democracy


It's a song about love between my brothers and my sisters
I'll use my voice to promote love and unity among all people


All over this land
Everywhere, not just in one place




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Tratore, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lee Hays, Pete Seeger

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@melaninsupergurl-vu4uv

​@@SophiaSchwartz009 stalinist communists with the hammer of the hammer and sickle.

Written for the Progressive Party which was controlled from Moscow because they needed a new face because HCSA was going to make CPUSA illegal.

Progressive equals Communist.

Don't let anyone fool you.

AOC, ANTIFA etc.



All comments from YouTube:

@h2d127

Sent this song to my friend who’s going through chemotherapy and all he wants to do is ring the bell 🔔 which will signal his success. Please pray for him every one who reads this message. Thank you so much!

@alanstar9175

Praying for your friend to get through this most difficult time of his life. May he be blessed and surrounded with good, loving, and positive energy. Sending him lots of this energy for recovery.

@user-cy2oc2bj1g

Im 47yo.. When i was 6yo my dad would play this song while doing carpentry in our house... Thanks dad for all our wonderful memories, grateful to God for giving me the best dad in the whole world.. Rest well in heaven... You are forever in my heart!❤❤ ❤❤

@pmimagery1295

This is the first song I ever learned to sing. I used to sing it to my grandparents, may God bless their souls.

@not2tees

The hammer of justice, the bell of freedom . . . they ring forever.

@Teho231

There’s something about that song that speaks to my heart even when I first heard it as a child in the 60’s. Thank you for this wonderful download.

@bigbadwolf200335

We used to sing this in school in the 60's and 70's

@beckyyeagersmith7252

IF any of us had HALF the conviction as Mary singing this song, swinging her hair...meaning it. By golly, we'd get things DONE .

@wislinman

Mary Travers for President (I know...)!!!

@9175rock

Smh

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