The group was created by manager Albert Grossman, who sought to create a folk "supergroup" by bringing together "a tall blonde (Travers), a funny guy (Stookey), and a good looking guy (Yarrow)." He launched the group in 1961, booking them into the Bitter End, a coffee house in New York City's Greenwich Village that was a favorite place to hear folk artists.
The group recorded their first album, Peter, Paul and Mary, the following year. It included "500 Miles," "Lemon Tree","Where Have All the Flowers Gone," and the hit Pete Seeger tune "If I Had a Hammer," ("The Hammer Song"). The album was listed on Billboard Magazine Top Ten list for ten months and in the Top One Hundred for over three years.
By 1963 they had recorded three albums; released the now-famous song "Puff the Magic Dragon", which Yarrow and fellow Cornell student Leonard Lipton originally wrote in 1959 and was on the charts in 1963; and performed "If I Had a Hammer" at the 1963 March on Washington, best remembered for Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. Their biggest single hit came with the Bob Dylan song, "Blowin' in the Wind," which was an international #1 hit. It was the fastest selling single ever cut by Warner Brothers Records. For many years after, the group was at the forefront of the civil rights movement and other causes promoting social justice. Their later hit "Leaving on a Jet Plane" was actually written by the then unknown John Denver.
The trio broke up in 1970 to pursue separate solo careers, but found little of the success they did as a group, although Stookey's "The Wedding Song (There Is Love)" (written for Yarrow's marriage to Marybeth McCarthy, the niece of senator Eugene McCarthy) was a hit and has become a wedding standard since its 1971 release.
In 1978, they reunited for a concert to protest nuclear energy, and have recorded albums together and toured since. They currently play around 25 shows a year.[1]
The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999.
In 2005, Travers was diagnosed with leukemia, leading to the cancellation of the remaining tour dates for that year. She received a bone marrow transplant and She and the rest of the trio resumed their concert tour on December 9, 2005 with a holiday performance at Carnegie Hall and were scheduled for several additional concerts in 2006.Sadly she passed away in Sept 2009.
Peter, Paul and Mary received in 2006 the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievment Award from Songwriters Hall of Fame.
If I Had My Way
Peter Paul & Mary Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He was the strongest man that ever lived on Earth.
One day old Sampson was walking alone
He looked down on the ground and he saw an old jaw-bone.
He lifted up that jaw-bone and he swung it over his head,
And when he got to moving ten thousand was dead.
If I had my way,
If I had my way I would tear this building down.
Sampson and the lion got in attack
Sampson he crawled up on the lion's back
You read about this lion - he killed a man with his paw
Sampson he got his hands around the lion's jaw
And he ripped that beast till the lion was dead
And the bees made honey in the lion's head.
If I had my way,
If I had my way in this wicked world,
If I had my way I would tear this building down.
Delilah was a woman, she was fine and fair
She had lovely looks, God knows, and cold black hair
Delilah she climbed up on Sampson's knee
And said "tell me where your strength lies, if you please"
She talked so fine, she talked so fair,
Sampson said Delilah, cut off my hair,
Shave my head just as clean as your hand
And my strength will be like a natural man.
If I had my way,
If I had my way in this wicked world,
If I had my way I would tear this building down.
If I had my way,
If I had my way in this wicked world,
If I had my way I would tear this building down.
The song "If I Had My Way" by Peter Paul & Mary is a retelling of the biblical story of Samson and Delilah from the book of Judges. The first verse describes Samson's incredible strength, with his ability to slay thousands of men just by wielding a jawbone. The chorus, "If I had my way, / If I had my way in this wicked world, / If I had my way I would tear this building down," is a call for justice and a desire to tear down the corrupt powers that be. The second verse describes Samson's battle with a lion, which he kills with his bare hands, and the bees that eventually make a hive inside the dead animal's skull. The final verse tells of Delilah's seduction of Samson and her discovery that his strength lies in his long hair. She cuts off his hair while he's sleeping, and the chorus repeats as Samson is taken captive by his enemies, blinded and weakened.
The song is more than just a simple retelling of a biblical story - it is a social commentary on the state of the world and a call for justice. The chorus is a powerful statement of resistance against those in power who abuse their authority and oppress the people. The reference to tearing down a building can be interpreted as a call for revolution or rebellion, and the story of Samson and Delilah serves as a metaphor for the struggle against corruption and oppression.
Line by Line Meaning
You read about Sampson, you read about his birth
Reading about the story of Sampson and his birth
He was the strongest man that ever lived on Earth.
Sampson was considered to be the strongest man who ever lived on earth.
One day old Sampson was walking alone
Sampson was walking alone on one fine day.
He looked down on the ground and he saw an old jaw-bone.
Sampson saw an old jaw-bone when he looked down on the ground.
He lifted up that jaw-bone and he swung it over his head,
Sampson lifted the jaw-bone and swung it over his head.
And when he got to moving ten thousand was dead.
He killed ten thousand people with the jaw-bone.
If I had my way,
In my ideal world,
If I had my way in this wicked world,
If I had complete control in this evil world,
If I had my way I would tear this building down.
I would destroy this building if I could.
Sampson and the lion got in attack
Sampson and the lion got into a fight.
Sampson he crawled up on the lion's back
Sampson climbed on the back of the lion.
You read about this lion - he killed a man with his paw
The lion had killed someone with his paw.
Sampson he got his hands around the lion's jaw
Sampson grabbed the lion by the jaw.
And he ripped that beast till the lion was dead
He killed the lion by ripping it apart.
And the bees made honey in the lion's head.
Bees created a honeycomb inside the lion's skull.
Delilah was a woman, she was fine and fair
Delilah was a woman who was beautiful and fair.
She had lovely looks, God knows, and cold black hair
Delilah had beautiful looks with shiny black hair.
Delilah she climbed up on Sampson's knee
Delilah climbed on Sampson's knee.
And said "tell me where your strength lies, if you please"
She asked Sampson where his strength came from.
She talked so fine, she talked so fair,
She spoke elegantly and with grace.
Sampson said Delilah, cut off my hair,
Sampson asked Delilah to cut his hair.
Shave my head just as clean as your hand
Sampson asked Delilah to shave his head until it was smooth.
And my strength will be like a natural man.
He knew that his physical strength would be gone.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: REV. GARY DAVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@shirleypena4133
For those here who are saying that this song ISN'T a folk song you could not be more WRONG. This song, originally known as "Samson and Delilah" is a traditional folk song that's based on the Biblical tale of Samson and his betrayal by Delilah.
Although the song's author is often credited as the folk/blues singer/songwriter "Reverend" Gary Davis, several earlier versions were recorded under various titles by various artists such as Blind Willie Johnson's version "If I Had My Way, I Would Tear This Building Down" in 1927. The song has since been performed by a wide variety of artists ranging from Bob Dylan, Charlie Parr, Dave Van Ronk to Peter, Paul and Mary, Bruce Springsteen and the Seeger Sessions Band (in Verona, Italy 2006).
Rev. Gary Davis's recording can be heard on the compilation album 'The Music Never Stopped: Roots of the Grateful Dead.'
To Thomas Maguire: I suggest you redefine your definition of "folk" music.
To davidb10se3: no, they are not "stoned" here. I know Peter Yarrow and
he has assured me that Peter, Paul and Mary NEVER performed stoned.
Paul Stookey recently told my associate the same thing when he was asked
that same question last month in an interview.
@ryearnd
who making music today has the message? the courage? the commitment? and the soul to deliver anything close to this? The times the era forged this passion and love for all of gods creation and all brothers and sisters in god. Today we have turned our back on our creator and its no wonder that we are so empty.
@CHUCK1213
I named my cat after these wonderful people and this song. I had the honor of meeting Paul Stookey years ago in a tiny bookstore in Alexandria Virginia. God Bless them and God be with Mary RIP. I love them.
@drabdr
Peter Paul and Mary could teach the performing industry a lot. These three worked extremely hard to present their heart in the form of music and make it poetry. And they were brilliant at it.
@jeffhansman2829
Lucky enough to see them perform this to a packed Hollywood Bowl in the early 70's, and the audience went wild. I've never forgotten it. For all you folkie purists out there, just enjoy the incredible energy and talent these three brought to the song, OK?
@danielyoung5137
Jeff l believe l may have been at that same show! Paul (Noel) made a comment about the “Bollywood Hole” and there was a live action televised screen behind them so we could see their faces in close-up!
@Jenniferhos
I actually got to sing back up for Peter Paul and Mary in 1997 at Kent State University. It was a very special moment for me.
@nonniemom
RIP Mary..thanks for sharing your God given gifts all these years..you've left behind such beauty for all of us.
@haileyh500
They were absolutely fabulous! WOW!
@dardanus999
They never failed to entertain as well as teach and extend your musical experience. I wonder how many hundreds of hours I spent transformed listening to their records.
@acintoli
I dare anybody to find the same quality and joie de vivre in today's performers! We should find a way to make these artists stay young and healthy forever!