The older Leadbelly version before Trini Lopez or Peter, Paul and Mary.
If I Had a Hammer
Take this hammer, carry it to the captain
Tell him I’m gone
Tell him I’m gone
If he asks you was I runnin’
If he asks you was I runnin’
Tell him I was flyin’
They want to feed me cornbread and molasses
But I got my pride
Well, I got my pride
/////////////////////////
Political edge added by Pete Seeger and Peter, Paul and Mary:
I’d sing out danger
I’d song of out a warning
I’d sing out love between
My brothers and my sisters
All over this land, oh
Well, I’ve 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 a song about love between
My brothers and my sisters
All over this land
“Bang-bang, Maxwell’s silver hammer,
Came down,
upon his head...”
.