If I Had a Hammer - Pete Seeger & Lee Hays (Cover) by Seth Staton Watkins
"If I Had a Hammer (The Hammer Song)" is a protest anthem composed by Pete Seeger and Lee Hays in 1949. Originally released as "The Hammer Song" in 1950, it later surged in popularity with Peter, Paul and Mary's #10 hit in 1962 and Trini Lopez's #3 rendition in 1963.
Pete Seeger has influenced my musical career immensely. His commitment to combating injustice in all arenas, no matter the personal consequence, is truly an inspiration and a model for all artists to follow if they have the courage and moral fortitude to do so. What's more, his commitment to dialogue, his apparent immunity to animosity and hate, and his vociferous love for all people made him a revered figure among friend and foe, fan and critic. I will stand in the shadow of such a giant but I will do my best to follow in his footsteps.
In light of recent events, I would be remiss if I did not speak to Seeger's visit to Israel and activism for Palestine. Seeger forged strong bonds with Jewish communities in New York, where he met numerous Jewish musicians who introduced him to "Tzena, Tzena." He not only recorded and performed this song but also delved into a repertoire of various other Jewish songs throughout his career. Seeger had immense sympathy for the plight of the Jewish people across the centuries, but he also recognized the injustices inherent in the birth of the Israeli state. His visit to Israel in 1964 was motivated by admiration for kibbutzim as collective communal projects. However, during his visit which occurred just before Israel's invasion in 1967, he condemned what he considered "monstrous" Israeli military actions against Palestinians. Seeger refused to enter the Israeli section of Jerusalem and publicly declared support for Palestinian refugees: “let’s dedicate this to all exiles, not only the exiles of 2,000 years, but also of 20 years, as I said last week at the University of Beirut”. This stance, expressed during a Tel Aviv concert, led to considerable debate and marked his visit with controversy, yet remained in keeping with his life-long commitment to justice. We need more like Pete Seeger, and in his absence, I will do what I can, with love and empathy in my heart.
Lyrics:
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
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