If I Had a Hammer (Hammer Song)

• By: Pete Seeger
• Album: If I Had a Hammer: Songs of Hope and Struggle

Lyrics:

Vocabulary in this song:

Vocabulary	Meanings
hammer /ˈhæmər/ A1	noun - a tool with a heavy metal head used for driving nails, breaking things, etc. verb - to hit or beat something with a hammer.
morning /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/ A1	noun - the period of time between sunrise and noon.
evening /ˈiːvnɪŋ/ A1	noun - the period of time at the end of the day, usually from about 6 p.m. to bedtime.
land /lænd/ A1	noun - the part of the earth's surface that is not permanently covered by water.
danger /ˈdeɪndʒər/ A2	noun - the possibility of something bad happening.
warning /ˈwɔːrnɪŋ/ B1	noun - a statement or event that indicates a potential danger or problem.
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - a strong feeling of affection.
brothers /ˈbrʌðərz/ A1	noun - plural of brother
sisters /ˈsɪstərz/ A1	noun - plural of sister
bell /bel/ A1	noun - a hollow metal object, typically cup-shaped, that resonates when struck, producing a ringing sound.
ring /rɪŋ/ A1	verb - to make a clear resonant sound.
song /sɔːŋ/ A1	noun - a short poem or other set of words set to music or meant to be sung.
sing /sɪŋ/ A1	verb - to make musical sounds with the voice, especially words with a set tune.
justice /ˈdʒʌstɪs/ B2	noun - fairness in the way people are treated.
freedom /ˈfriːdəm/ B1	noun - the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance.

Grammar:

• If I had a hammer

  ➔ Second Conditional

  ➔ Uses 'If + past simple, would + infinitive'. Expresses an unreal or improbable situation in the present or future. Here, it implies the speaker doesn't currently have a hammer, but is imagining what they *would* do if they did.

• I'd hammer in the morning

  ➔ Contraction ('d) of 'would' + Infinitive

  ➔ 'I'd' is a contraction of 'I would'. It's followed by the infinitive 'hammer'. 'Would' expresses a conditional or hypothetical action.

• All over this land

  ➔ Prepositional Phrase indicating location

  ➔ The preposition 'over' combined with 'this land' forms a phrase indicating the scope or location where the action takes place.

• I'd hammer *out* danger

  ➔ Phrasal Verb (hammer out)

  ➔ 'Hammer out' is a phrasal verb meaning to create or produce something with effort, or to resolve a problem. In this context, it means to eliminate or overcome danger.

• It's the hammer *of* justice

  ➔ Preposition 'of' indicating association/possession

  ➔ The preposition 'of' links 'hammer' and 'justice', indicating that the hammer represents or is associated with justice.

• It's the song *about* love between my brothers and my sisters

  ➔ Preposition 'about' indicating the subject

  ➔ The preposition 'about' introduces the topic or subject of the song, which is 'love between my brothers and my sisters'.