Lopez made his name on the club circuit of the Southwestern United States before being 'discovered' in 1962 playing at the club PJ's in Hollywood, California, by record producer Don Costa. Costa was taken with Lopez's latinized versions of contemporary hits and signed him up to Frank Sinatra's record label, Reprise Records. His debut album, Trini Lopez Live at PJ's, was released in 1963. The album included a version of If I Had a Hammer, which reached number one in 36 countries (No. 3 in the United States) and was a radio favorite for many years. He also performed his own version of the traditional Mexican song La Bamba on the album; his recording of the tune was later re-issued as a single in 1966.
His popularity led the Gibson Guitar Corporation to ask him in 1964 to design a guitar for them. He ended up designing two: The Trini Lopez Standard, a rock and roll model based on the Gibson ES-335 semi-hollow body, and the Lopez Deluxe, a variation of a Gibson jazz guitar designed by Barney Kessel. Both of these guitars were in production from 1964 until 1971 and are now highly sought after amongst collectors. Some owners of the guitar include Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters and Noel Gallagher of Oasis.
He scored 13 chart singles through 1968, including "Lemon Tree" (1965), "I'm Comin' Home, Cindy" (1966) and "Sally Was a Good Old Girl" (1968). On the adult contemporary chart, he ranked up 15 hits, including the Top 10 singles "Michael" (1964), "Gonna Get Along Without Ya' Now" (1967) and "The Bramble Bush" (1967). Beyond his success on record, he became one of the country's top nightclub performers of that era, regularly headlining in Las Vegas, Nevada.
During the 1960s and 1970s Lopez moved into acting, though his film career was not as successful as his music. His first film role was in Marriage on the Rocks (1965), in which he made a cameo appearance in a nightclub scene; Lopez's soundtrack song, "Sinner Man", became a hit single (No. 54 pop/No. 12 adult contemporary). He was one of The Dirty Dozen (1967) and starred in Antonio (1973). He made two appearances (playing different characters) on the television program, Adam 12. He continued his musical career with extensive tours of Europe and Latin America during this period; an attempt to break out by releasing a disco album in 1978 proved a flop.
Since then, Lopez has done charitable work and received honors such as being inducted into the International Latin Music Hall of Fame in 2003. He was still recording and appearing live in the early 2000s. Recently he took part in a benefit concert to raise money for the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.
If A Had A Hammer
Trini Lopez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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, ah-ah
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, ah-ah
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 world
I'd sing out danger
I'd sing out a warning
I'd sing out love between
My brothers and my sisters ah-ah
All over this land
I 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 the song about love between
My brothers and my sisters
All over this land
All over this land
All over this land
All over this land
All over this land
All over this land
All over this land
Trini Lopez's song "If I Had a Hammer" is a protest song that advocates for social justice, universal love, and equality. The lyrics are a call to action for everyone to use what they have, including a hammer, a bell, and a song, in making the world a better place by promoting love and harmony among all people.
The first stanza of the song states: "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, ah-ah, all over this land." The hammer is a symbol of power, and Lopez suggests that the power one has can be used for good or bad. If they had a hammer, they would use it to help others and make the world a safer place. They would also use it to promote love and selflessness, strengthening the bond between all people.
In the second stanza, Lopez introduces the bell: "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, ah-ah, all over this land." The bell is a symbol of communication, and the use of this tool allows for people to communicate and spread important messages to others. Lopez advocates for ringing out danger and warning others of potential harm, while also promoting love and solidarity among all people.
Lastly, the third stanza speaks about a song: "If I had a song, I'd sing it in the morning, I'd sing it in the evening, all over this world. I'd sing out danger, I'd sing out a warning, I'd sing out love between my brothers and my sisters, ah-ah, all over this land." The song is a powerful tool for communication and promoting unity. Through singing a song, one can share important messages and make sure that their voice is heard by many. Lopez advocates for singing out danger and warning others, as well as promoting love and harmony amongst every individual.
Overall, "If I Had a Hammer" is a profound protest song that advocates for social justice, universal love, and equality. The hammer, bell, and song are all symbols of communication, power, and unity, and represent the powerful tools that can be used to create a better world. Lopez's powerful message of love and selflessness echoes clearly in the song and its message is still relevant today, making it one of the most iconic protest songs in history.
Line by Line Meaning
If I had a hammer
If I possessed a tool that could strike objects
I'd hammer in the morning
I would use the hammer during the early part of the day
I'd hammer in the evening
I would use the hammer during the later part of the day
All over this land
Everywhere in this country
I'd hammer out danger
I would use the hammer to eliminate danger
I'd hammer out a warning
I would use the hammer to send a cautionary message
I'd hammer out love between
I would use the hammer as a metaphor for creating love amongst people
My brothers and my sisters, ah-ah
This refers to all people, not just biological siblings
If I had a bell
If I possessed a circular object that makes noise when struck
I'd ring it in the morning
I would use the bell during the early part of the day to make noise
I'd ring it in the evening
I would use the bell during the later part of the day to make noise
I'd ring out danger
I would use the bell to eliminate danger
I'd ring out a warning
I would use the bell to send a cautionary message
I'd ring out love between
I would use the bell as a metaphor for creating love amongst people
If I had a song
If I possessed a piece of music with lyrics
I'd sing it in the morning
I would perform the song during the early part of the day
I'd sing it in the evening
I would perform the song during the later part of the day
All over this world
Everywhere in this planet
I'd sing out danger
I would use the song to eliminate danger
I'd sing out a warning
I would use the song to send a cautionary message
I'd sing out love between
I would use the song as a metaphor for creating love amongst people
I got a hammer
I have a tool which can strike objects
And I've got a bell
I possess a circular object that makes noise when struck
And I've got a song to sing
I have a piece of music with lyrics to perform
It's the hammer of justice
The tool I possess is representative of justice
It's the bell of freedom
The circular object I possess is representative of freedom
It's the song about love between
The piece of music with lyrics I possess is representative of creating love amongst people
My brothers and my sisters
This refers to all people, not just biological siblings
All over this land
Everywhere in this country
All over this land
Everywhere in this country
All over this land
Everywhere in this country
All over this land
Everywhere in this country
All over this land
Everywhere in this country
All over this land
Everywhere in this country
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@freeguy77
One of the most memorable songs (to a pre-teen kid) in early 1963, played repeatedly on my little 6-transistor radio! The song was so good, it hit the Billboard Hot 100's Top 10 for two different artists! Peter, Paul and Mary hit #10 with it in 1962, and Trini Lopez hit even bigger with it in 1963, in the middle of the civil rights movement, at #3. Trini was 26 then, 82 now in Jan. 2020. What a timeless standard for love and peace, "all over the world."
@arnaldogomez9146
And ...Rita Pavone made an Italian version
@ricardomafiosobelmontcassi734
Original song of Pete Seeger
@freeguy77
Trini Lopez lost his life on Aug. 11, at 83. He celebrated his final birthday on May 15. He was born in Dallas, TX, died in Palm Springs, CA. In 1955/56 Trini Lopez and his band worked at The Vegas Club, a nightclub owned by Jack Ruby, the nightclub owner who assassinated Lee Harvey Oswald on Nov. 24, 1963.
@burcinakaln4732
😔👏👏👏😚
@burcinakaln4732
😍😔👏👏👏👏👏
@stevepotocin9501
When Trini sings that "Bell" part, and the drummer hits the middle of that ride cymbal, the Holy Spirit of rock action enters my soul!
@d1i2a3n4n5e6
Me too and I'm a drummer
@bhodges00
That drummer was Mickey Jones who was the drummer for Kenny Rodgers and First Edition. He was also an actor. He guest star on Home Improvement.
@jimmypeters
@@bhodges00 Also a member of the group eventually known as The Band, backing Dylan on his 1966 world tour when Levon Helm took a hiatus.