You read about Samson, you read about his birth.
He was the strongest man that ever lived on earth.
One day as samson was a-walking alone,
He looked down on the ground and he saw an old jawbone.
He lifted up that jawbone and he swung it over his head,
And when he got to movin’ ten thousand was dead.
If I had my way, if I had my way in this wicked world
If I had my way I would tear this building down.
Samson and the lion got in attack. Samson he crawled up on the lion’s back.
You read about this lion, he killed a man with his paw.
Samson got his hands around that lions jaw and he ripped that beast.
The lion was dead, and the bees made honey and the lion is dead.
If I had my way, if I had my way in this wicked world
If I had my way I would tear this building down.
Delilah she was a woman, she was fine and fair,
She had lovely looks, God knows, and coal black hair.
Delilah she climbed up on Samson’s knee,
She said, “Tell me where your strength lies, if you please.”
She talked so fine, she talked so fair, Samson said, “Delilah, cut off my hair,
Shave my head, just as clean as your hand and my strength will be like a nat’ral man.”
If I had my way, if I had my way in this wicked world
If I had my way I would tear this building down
If I had my way, if I had my way, if I had my way in this wicked world.
If I had my way I would tear this building down.
1960 – Rev. Gary Davis – Performed by Peter, Paul and Mary – Album: Peter, Paul and Mary