If I Had a Hammer
Weavers The 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

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 it in danger, I'd ring out a warning
I'd ring in 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 it in danger, I'd sing out a warning
I'd sing in 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
It's a song about love between my brothers and my sisters all over this land

Overall Meaning

The song "If I Had a Hammer" by Weavers is a powerful call to action. The singer discusses using a hammer to hammer out danger and warning against injustice. He then talks about a bell that he would ring to warn people of danger and to promote love between his brothers and sisters. Finally, the singer talks about singing a song that promotes love and warns against danger.


The hammer represents the power of action. It is a tool that can be used to build something up or tear it down. The singer is advocating for using this power to create a better world for everyone. The bell represents warning and awareness. It is a way to alert people to danger and promote safety. The singer is encouraging people to be aware of the danger in the world and to take action to prevent harm. The song represents a call to action for people to use their skills and talents to promote love, justice and safety in the world.


Line by Line Meaning

If I had a hammer, I'd hammer in the morning
If I had a tool to build and create, I'd work hard in the early hours


I'd hammer in the evening, all over this land
I would continue to work tirelessly, spanning across different regions


I'd hammer out danger, I'd hammer out a warning
I would use the tool to eradicate harmful elements and alert others of potential risks


I'd hammer out love between my brothers and my sisters all over this land
I would use the tool to bring people together and foster love and unity among all individuals, regardless of background or differences


If I had a bell, I'd ring it in the morning
If I had a symbol to call attention and alert, I'd use it early in the day


I'd ring it in the evening, all over this land
It would continue to be used throughout the day, spreading a message far and wide


I'd ring it in danger, I'd ring out a warning
I would utilize the bell to signal danger and alert others to potential harm


I'd ring in love between my brothers and my sisters all over this land
I would use the bell, not just for danger, but also to promote love and connection among all people


If I had a song, I'd sing it in the morning
If I had a melody to share, I'd do so early in the day


I'd sing it in the evening, all over this land
I would continue to share the song throughout the day, spreading the message far and wide


I'd sing it in danger, I'd sing out a warning
I would use music as a means of alerting others to potential danger


I'd sing in love between my brothers and my sisters all over this land
The song would serve as a vehicle to promote love and connection among all individuals across regions


Well I got a hammer and I got a bell
I possess the tools to build, alert, and promote love


And I got a song to sing all over this land
I possess a powerful melody to spread a meaningful message


It's the hammer of justice, it's the bell of freedom
These tools represent justice and freedom, important values to uphold


It's a song about love between my brothers and my sisters all over this land
The lyrics and melody combine to convey a message of unity, love, and connection among all people in different regions




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

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Comments from YouTube:

@egreenbery

The vocal harmonies are so beautiful here, it brings tears to my eyes.

@AlternativeDrMom

We need to start singing this song again...as much as we can. God help us.

@ISO_-

If only you knew what was coming three years later

@NeverKnowinglyUndersouled

Lauren, you must have posted this shortly after that vile, disgusting, far right loon Donald Trump had been inexplicably voted into office - and I concur with your disdain.

@egreenbery

I think both the conservatives and the screwball leftist "progressive" democrats would hate that.

@andyhiggs6932

​@Richard Lance Your attitude is the antithisis of the 'love between my brothers and sisters' mentioned in this song. It doesn't start with Trump, it starts with you.

@VintagePugs

I remember my dad use to sing me to sleep with this song. I miss those simple times.

@JohnCortelli

This is the song we always listened to at Salkehatchie. It fit the job description perfectly. :) It got us ready to work every morning. It is surprising what a group of highschool kids could do in one week that a construction worker couldn't do in one month. The construction worker changes the building, Salkehatchie does the same, but we change the life of the person living in the building. :) Praise the lord.

@PeachyFlee

Beautiful! There's nothing better than a classic

@BrockenSpecter

@winggoddess Lee Hays and Pete Seeger, both of the Weavers, wrote this song in 1949. No version of it existed before then. Lee wrote it with the words "all of my brothers". Libby Frank convinced him, in 1952, to begin singing "my brothers and my sisters". Trust me on this, I'm a big Weavers fan, and they definitely were the first to do the song! This rendition is from their 1963 reunion concert, but they cut two versions in 1949. I have both of them. All the other versions are covers.

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