D             D/C#         B7                Bm7/A
    Joan was quizzical, studied metaphysical
    Em                 (E) (D)(C#)(B)
    Science in the home
    A
    Late nights all alone with a test tube
    D               A   A7
    Oh, oh oh, oh

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

                        E
                 But as she's getting ready to go
                     A                                        A7
                 A knock comes on the door

                              D
                              Bang! Bang! Maxwell's silver hammer
                                         E
                              Came down upon her head
                              A
                              Bang! Bang! Maxwell's silver hammer
                                        Em           A7         D       /A  D
                              Made sure that she was dead
                                           *Bridge*   D D/C# B7 Bm7/A
                                                                E A D D/A D

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

    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
                              Bang! Bang! Maxwell's silver hammer
                                        Em                        A7
                              Made sure that she was dead
                                          *Interlude*   (verse & bridge)

    P. C. Thirty-one 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
                              Bang! Bang! Maxwell's silver hammer
                              Made sure that he was dead
                                          *Interlude*   (verse)

                             D D/C# B7 Bm7/A
                              Silver   hammer...
                                                             E A D D/A D