If I Had a Hammer

"The Hammer Song"
Original 1950 release by The Weavers on Hootenanny Records, 101-A.
Single by The Weavers
B-side	"Banks of Marble"
Released	1950
Format	Vinyl single
Genre	Folk
Label	Hootenanny
Songwriter(s)	Pete Seeger Lee Hays

"If I Had a Hammer"

Single by Peter, Paul and Mary

from the album Peter, Paul and Mary

B-side

"Gone the Rainbow"

Released

Format

Length

2:11

Albert Grossman
Milt Okun

Peter, Paul and Mary singles chronology

"Lemon Tree"
(1962)

"If I Had A Hammer"
(1962)

"Puff, the Magic Dragon"
(1963)

"If I Had a Hammer"

Single by Trini Lopez

from the album Trini Lopez at PJ's

Released

Format

Folk
Pop

Length

2:59

Trini Lopez singles chronology

"If I Had a Hammer"
(1963)

"Kansas City"
(1963)

"If I Had a Hammer (The Hammer Song)" is a song written by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays. It was written in 1949 in support of the progressive movement, and was first recorded by The Weavers, a folk music quartet composed of Seeger, Hays, Ronnie Gilbert and Fred Hellerman. It was a number 10 hit for Peter, Paul and Mary in 1962 and then went to number three a year later when recorded by Trini Lopez.

The Weavers released the song under the title "The Hammer Song" as a 78 single in March 1950 on Hootenanny Records, 101-A, backed with "Banks of Marble".

Early versions

The song was first performed publicly by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays on June 3, 1949, at St. Nicholas Arena in New York City at a testimonial dinner for the leaders of the Communist Party of the United States, who were then on trial in federal court, charged with violating the Smith Act by advocating the overthrow of the U.S. government.^[1] It was not particularly successful in commercial terms when it was first released. It was part of the three songs Seeger played as the warm-up act for Paul Robeson's September 4 concert near Peekskill, New York, which subsequently erupted into a riot.^[2]

Hit versions

It fared notably better in commercial terms when it was recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary a dozen years later. Their cover of the song, released in July 1962 off the group's debut self-titled album, became a Top 10 hit, and won the Grammy Awards for Best Folk Recording and Best Performance by a Vocal Group. Trini Lopez's 1963 single went to number three on the same Billboard chart. It was included on his album, Trini Lopez at PJ's (Reprise R/RS 6093).^[3]

Other versions

Johnny Cash released the song on his album Any Old Wind That Blows in 1972. Also released as a single, the song hit number 29 on the US country chart.
Wanda Jackson released the song as a single in 1969. It was included on her album The Many Moods of Wanda Jackson. It reached number 41 on the US country chart.

Legacy

The song "If I Had a Hammer" was a Freedom Song of the Civil Rights Movement.

Wikileaks chose the song as its "Wikileaks song".^[4]

References

↑ "Town Talk," The Daily Worker, June 1, 1949
↑ Frillmann, Karen. "Today in History: Peekskill Riots". WYNC (New York), 4 September 2009. Accessed 25 January 2015.
↑ Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 21 - Forty Miles of Bad Road: Some of the best from rock 'n' roll's dark ages. [Part 2]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries. Track 2.
↑ "Inspirational Material".

External links

Pete Seeger
Studio albums	American Folk Songs for Children God Bless the Grass Dangerous Songs!? Rainbow Race At 89 Pete Remembers Woody
Live albums	We Shall Overcome
Songs	"The Bells of Rhymney" "God's Counting on Me, God's Counting on You" "If I Had a Hammer" "If You Miss Me at the Back of the Bus" "Little Boxes" "My Rainbow Race" "Pittsburgh Town" "Turn! Turn! Turn!" "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy "We Shall Overcome" "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?"
Almanac Singers	Songs for John Doe Talking Union Deep Sea Chanteys and Whaling Ballads Sod Buster Ballads Songs of the Lincoln Battalion Dear Mr. President
The Weavers	The Weavers at Carnegie Hall The Weavers at Carnegie Hall Vol. 2 The Weavers: Wasn't That a Time!
Other	Precious Friend (with Arlo Guthrie)
Related	Discography People's Songs Rainbow Quest Sing Out! Pete Seeger: The Power of Song Hudson River Sloop Clearwater The Great Hudson River Revival We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions
Family	Charles Seeger (father) Ruth Crawford Seeger (stepmother) Alan Seeger (paternal uncle) Toshi Seeger (wife) Mike Seeger (paternal half-brother) Peggy Seeger (paternal half-sister) Ewan MacColl (brother-in-law) John Cohen (brother-in-law) Mika Seeger (daughter) Kirsty MacColl (stepniece) Tao Rodríguez-Seeger (grandson)

Johnny Cash
Studio albums	With His Hot and Blue Guitar Sings the Songs That Made Him Famous The Fabulous Johnny Cash Greatest! Songs of Our Soil Sings Hank Williams Now, There Was a Song! Now Here's Johnny Cash The Sound of Johnny Cash All Aboard the Blue Train Ring of Fire: The Best of Johnny Cash The Original Sun Sound of Johnny Cash I Walk the Line Orange Blossom Special Everybody Loves a Nut Happiness Is You Old Golden Throat More of Old Golden Throat Hello, I'm Johnny Cash The World of Johnny Cash Man in Black A Thing Called Love Any Old Wind That Blows Ragged Old Flag The Junkie and the Juicehead Minus Me John R. Cash Look at Them Beans One Piece at a Time The Last Gunfighter Ballad I Would Like to See You Again Gone Girl Silver Rockabilly Blues The Baron The Adventures of Johnny Cash Johnny 99 Rainbow Johnny Cash Is Coming to Town Classic Cash: Hall of Fame Series Water from the Wells of Home Boom Chicka Boom The Mystery of Life American Recordings Unchained American III: Solitary Man American IV: The Man Comes Around Personal File American V: A Hundred Highways American VI: Ain't No Grave Out Among the Stars
Concept albums	Ride This Train Blood, Sweat and Tears Bitter Tears: Ballads of the American Indian Sings the Ballads of the True West From Sea to Shining Sea America: A 200-Year Salute in Story and Song The Johnny Cash Children's Album The Rambler
Gospel albums	Hymns by Johnny Cash Hymns from the Heart The Holy Land The Gospel Road (film soundtrack) Sings Precious Memories A Believer Sings the Truth Believe in Him Return to the Promised Land (video soundtrack) My Mother's Hymn Book
Christmas albums	The Christmas Spirit The Johnny Cash Family Christmas Classic Christmas Johnny Cash Country Christmas
Collaborations	The Lure of the Grand Canyon Carryin' On with Johnny Cash and June Carter Johnny Cash and His Woman The Legend of Jesse James The Survivors Live Highwayman Class of '55 Heroes Highwayman 2 The Road Goes on Forever VH1 Storytellers
Live albums	At Folsom Prison At San Quentin The Johnny Cash Show På Österåker Strawberry Cake Koncert v Praze (In Prague–Live) At Madison Square Garden A Concert Behind Prison Walls
Non-gospel soundtracks	I Walk the Line Little Fauss and Big Halsy
Compilations	Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 Heart of Cash Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 Sunday Morning Coming Down International Superstar Five Feet High and Rising Destination Victoria Station Greatest Hits, Vol. 3 The Unissued Johnny Cash Johnny & June Tall Man Encore Biggest Hits The Man in Black 1954–1958 The Man in Black 1959–1962 Come Along and Ride This Train The Essential Johnny Cash (1992) Wanted Man The Man in Black 1963–1969 The Man in Black – His Greatest Hits 16 Biggest Hits Love, God, Murder The Essential Johnny Cash (2002) Unearthed The Legend The Legend of Johnny Cash Johnny Cash: Patriot 16 Biggest Hits: Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash The Legend of Johnny Cash Vol. II The Complete Columbia Album Collection
Songs	"25 Minutes to Go" "Seasons of My Heart" "Any Old Wind That Blows" "The Ballad of Boot Hill" "The Ballad of Ira Hayes" "Ballad of a Teenage Queen" "Big River" "Blistered" "A Boy Named Sue" "Busted" "Cat's in the Cradle" "Cocaine Blues" "Cry! Cry! Cry!" "Daddy Sang Bass" "Dark as a Dungeon" "Don't Take Your Guns to Town" "Engine 143" "Flesh and Blood" "The Folk Singer" "Folsom Prison Blues" "Forty Shades of Green" "Get Rhythm" "Goodnight, Irene" "Green, Green Grass of Home" "Greystone Chapel" "Guess Things Happen That Way" "Hey, Porter" "Home of the Blues" "Hurt" "I Couldn't Keep from Crying" "I Love You Because" "I Still Miss Someone" "I Walk the Line" "If I Had a Hammer" "If I Were a Carpenter" "In My Life" "In the Jailhouse Now" "It Ain't Me Babe" "Jackson" "Kate" "The Man Comes Around" "Man in Black" "The Matador" "Oh Lonesome Me" "One Piece at a Time" "Oney" "Orange Blossom Special" "The One on the Right Is on the Left" "Remember the Alamo" "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky" "Ring of Fire" "Rock Island Line" "So Doggone Lonesome" "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" "Tennessee Flat Top Box" "There Ain't No Good Chain Gang" "A Thing Called Love" "Understand Your Man" "What Is Truth" "What'd I Say"
Television	The Johnny Cash Show
Family	June Carter Cash John Carter Cash Rosanne Cash Carlene Carter Vivian Liberto Tommy Cash Carter Family
Related	Albums discography Singles discography Sun Records discography The Highwaymen Carter Family Fold Man in Black: His Own Story in His Own Words Cash: The Autobiography Johnny Cash! The Man, His World, His Music Walk the Line We Walk the Line: A Celebration of the Music of Johnny Cash Ring of Fire (2013 film) Ring of Fire (musical) My Father and the Man in Black Dyess, Arkansas The Tennessee Three
Book

Peter, Paul and Mary
Peter Yarrow Paul Stookey Mary Travers
Studio albums	Peter, Paul and Mary Moving In the Wind A Song Will Rise See What Tomorrow Brings The Peter, Paul and Mary Album Album 1700 Late Again Peter, Paul and Mommy In These Times
Compilation albums	The Best of Peter, Paul and Mary: Ten Years Together Songs of Conscience and Concern
Live albums	In Concert Peter, Paul & Mommy, Too
Singles	"Lemon Tree" "If I Had a Hammer" "Puff, the Magic Dragon" "500 Miles" "Blowin' in the Wind" "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" "Stewball" "Tell It on the Mountain" "The Times They Are a-Changin'" "When the Ship Comes In" "San Francisco Bay Blues" "Early Morning Rain" "I Dig Rock and Roll Music" "Too Much of Nothing" "Day Is Done" "Leaving on a Jet Plane"
Other songs	"Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" "And When I Die" "El Salvador" "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" "This Land Is Your Land"

Wanda Jackson
Albums Singles
Studio albums	The Party Ain't Over Unfinished Business
Live album	Wanda Live! at Third Man Records
Notable songs	"You Can't Have My Love" "I Gotta Know" "Riot in Cell Block Number 9" "Let's Have a Party" "Happy, Happy Birthday Baby" "Right or Wrong" "Funnel of Love" "In the Middle of a Heartache" "A Little Bitty Tear" "The Box It Came In" "Tears Will Be the Chaser for Your Wine" "If I Had a Hammer" "My Big Iron Skillet" "Two Separate Bar Stools "A Woman Lives for Love" "Fancy Satin Pillows" "You Know I'm No Good"

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