Peter, Paul and Mary changed the original lyrics to 'If I Had a Hammer'
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
Today's Morning Edition music is from the folk trio Peter, Paul, and Mary singing "If I Had a Hammer," which they released 55 years ago.
The song was originally composed by Pete Seeger and Lee Hayes, who wrote the first draft by passing a slip of paper back and forth between themselves during a meeting.
When Peter, Paul, and Mary sang it, they included "sisters" as well as "brothers" in the chorus. The original lyrics just mentioned "brothers."
Support Local News
When breaking news happens, MPR News provides the context you need. Help us meet the significant demands of these newsgathering efforts.