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==Other versions==
==Other versions==
* French singer [[Claude François]] performed a version of the song in October 1963 titled [[Si j'avais un marteau (EP)]] and released on [[Philips Records]], which he also performed on TV.
* Italian singer [[Rita Pavone]] performed a version of the song in 1964, titled "Datemi un Martello" ("Give me a Hammer") and released on RCA, which she also performed live on TV.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGIXrziSLCQ|title=Datemi un Martello|website=YouTube}}</ref>
* Italian singer [[Rita Pavone]] performed a version of the song in 1964, titled "Datemi un Martello" ("Give me a Hammer") and released on RCA, which she also performed live on TV.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGIXrziSLCQ|title=Datemi un Martello|website=YouTube}}</ref>
* [[Martha and the Vandellas]] perform it on their 1963 album ''[[Heat Wave (Martha and the Vandellas album)|Heat Wave]].''
* [[Martha and the Vandellas]] perform it on their 1963 album ''[[Heat Wave (Martha and the Vandellas album)|Heat Wave]].''

Revision as of 09:03, 1 August 2018

For other uses, see If I Had a Hammer (disambiguation).
"If I Had a Hammer"
Song
B-side"Banks of Marble"
"If I Had a Hammer"
Song
B-side"Gone the Rainbow"
"If I Had a Hammer"
Song
B-side"Unchain My Heart"

"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

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".[6]

Charts

Peter, Paul and Mary
Chart (1962) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[7] 10
Trini Lopez
Chart (1963) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[8] 4
US Billboard Hot 100[9] 3

References

  1. ^ "Town Talk," The Daily Worker, June 1, 1949
  2. ^ Frillmann, Karen. "Today in History: Peekskill Riots". WYNC (New York), 4 September 2009. Accessed 25 January 2015.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "Datemi un Martello". YouTube.
  5. ^ Laing, Dave (December 21, 2011). "Ross MacManus Obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 September 2017.
  6. ^ "Inspirational Material". WikiLeaks.
  7. ^ "Peter Paul Mary Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  8. ^ "Trini Lopez: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  9. ^ "Trini Lopez Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
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