D                   B7
Joan was quizzical; studied pataphysical
Em
Science in the home
A7
Late nights all alone with a test tube
D           A 
Oh, oh, oh, oh

[Verse 2]
D               B7
Maxwell Edison, majoring in medicine
Em
Calls her on the phone
A7                                   D           A
"Can I take you out to the pictures, Jo, oa, oa, an?"

 [Bridge]
    E7
But as she's getting ready to go
  A7
A knock comes on the door

[Chorus]
D
Bang! Bang! Maxwell's silver hammer
     E7
Came down upon her head.
A7
Clang! Clang! Maxwell's silver hammer
     Em        A7      D
Made sure that she was dead.

[Interlude]
| D F#/C# | Bm D7/A | G | D |

[Verse 3]
D                    B7
Back in school again Maxwell plays the fool again
Em
Teacher gets annoyed
A7                             D       A
Wishing to avoid an unpleasant sce-e-e-ene

[Verse 4]
D                     B7       
She tells Max to stay when the class has gone away
Em
So he waits behind
A7                                 D         A
Writing fifty times "I must not be so, o, o, o."

[Bridge]
    E7
But when she turns her back on the boy
   A7
He creeps up from behind

[Chorus]
D
Bang! Bang! Maxwell's silver hammer
     E7
Came down upon her head
A7
Clang! Clang! Maxwell's silver hammer
     Em        A7      D
Made sure that she was dead

[Interlude]
| D F#/C# | Bm D7/A | G | D |

[Verse 5]
D                B7
P. C. Thirty-one said, "We caught a dirty one."
Em
Maxwell stands alone
A7
Painting testimonial pictures
D           A 
Oh, oh, oh, oh

[Verse 6]
D                 B7
Rose and Valerie, screaming from the gallery
Em
Say he must go free
    A7                                     D         A
The judge does not agree and he tells them so, o, o, o

[Bridge]
    E7
But as the words are leaving his lips
  A7
A noise comes from behind

[Chorus]
D
Bang! Bang! Maxwell's silver hammer
     E7
Came down upon his head.
A7
Clang! Clang! Maxwell's silver hammer
Em             A7 
Made sure that he was dead (Wha-oh-a-oh-a-oh)

[Solo]
| D | % | E7 | % | 
| A7 | % | Em7 A7 | D A D   |

[Coda]
D  F#/C# Bm  D7/A G    D A D
Silver   Ham-mer  Man