Maxwell's Silver Hammer

The Beatles

Joan was quizzical, studied pataphysical
Science in the home
Late nights all alone with a test tube
Oh, oh, oh, oh

Maxwell Edison, majoring in medicine
Calls her on the phone
"Can I take you out to the pictures, Joan?"

But as she's getting ready to go
A knock comes on the door

Bang! Bang! Maxwell's silver hammer
Came down upon her head
Clang! Clang! Maxwell's silver hammer
Made sure that she was dead

Back in school again, Maxwell plays the fool again
Teacher gets annoyed
Wishing to avoid an unpleasant scene

She tells Max to stay when the class has gone away
So he waits behind
Writing fifty times "I must not be so, o, o, o"

But when she turns her back on the boy
He creeps up from behind

Bang! Bang! Maxwell's silver hammer
Came down upon her head (doo doo, doo doo, do)
Clang! Clang! Maxwell's silver hammer
Made sure that she was dead

P.C. 31 said, "We caught a dirty one"
Maxwell stands alone
Painting testimonial pictures
Oh, oh, oh, oh

Rose and Valerie, screaming from the gallery
Say he must go free (Maxwell must go free)
The judge does not agree and he tells them
So, o, o, o

But as the words are leaving his lips
A noise comes from behind

Bang! Bang! Maxwell's silver hammer
Came down upon his head (doo doo, doo doo, do)
Clang! Clang! Maxwell's silver hammer
Made sure that he was dead, wow, wow, oh
(Doo doo, doo doo, do)

Silver hammer man


Lyrics submitted by Ice, edited by gavinruckart01, Mellow_Harsher

Maxwell's Silver Hammer Lyrics as written by Paul Mccartney John Lennon

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Maxwell's Silver Hammer song meanings
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124 Comments

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  • +11
    General Comment

    I don't think this song represents anything particular, and people read into it a bit too much. It's just a comical little song about college student Maxwell killing. If you really did want to read into it, you could say the whole song right down to it's composition is about life taking turns and surprising you.

    It starts out almost like a parody of beatles love songs intruducing two characters to go out to the movies on a date, making you think that it's a love song, then BAM, it couldnt be more different. This kinda shows that not only is the story in the song about life's surprises, but everything right down to the cheerful tune and vocals conflicting with the dark undertone. Things aren't always what they seem. ;)

    This song is way underappreciated. I suppose in comparison to the Beatles' other songs, it would be. :)

    clockworkdollyon April 04, 2010   Link

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