D                   B7
Joan was quizzical, studied pataphysical
Em
Science in the home
A7
Late nights all alone with a test tube
D         A
Ohh-oh-oh-oh...
D              B7 
Maxwell Edison majoring in medicine
Em
Calls her on the phone
A7
"Can I take you out to the pictures
D         A
Joa-oa-oa-oan?"
E7                   E
But as she's getting ready to go
  A7                 A
A knock comes on the door...

D 
Bang, bang, Maxwell's silver hammer
     E7
Came down upon her head
A7
Clang, clang, Maxwell's silver hammer
     Em        A7      D    A
Made sure that she was dead

F# Bm D7 G A7 D A7 D

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
D                     B7
She tells Max to stay when the class has gone away
Em
So he waits behind
A7                              D      A
Writing 50 times "I must not be so-o-o-oo..."
E7                     E
But when she turns her back on the boy
   A7               A
He creeps up from behind

D 
Bang, bang, Maxwell's silver hammer
     E7
Came down upon her head
A7
Clang, clang, Maxwell's silver hammer
     Em        A7      D    A
Made sure that she was dead

break

F# Bm D7 G A7 D A7 D

D                                 B7
P.C. Thirty-One said "we caught a dirty one"
Em
Maxwell stands alone
A7                            D         A
Painting testimonial pictures ohh-oh-oh-oh
D                B7
Rose and Valerie screaming from the gallery
Em
Say he must go free (Maxwell must go free)
    A7                                     D      A
The judge does not agree and he tells them so-o-o-oo
E7                   E
But as the words are leaving his lips
  A7                 A
A noise comes from behind

D 
Bang, bang, Maxwell's silver hammer
     E7
Came down upon her head
A7
Clang, clang, Maxwell's silver hammer
     Em        A7     D    A
Made sure that he was dead

D E7 A7 Em A7 D A

D  F#  Bm  D7  G A D
Silver hammer 

* Alternate:

Capo II

D  = C
B7 = A7
Em = Dm
A7 = G7
A  = G
E7 = D7
Bm = Am
F# = E
E  = D