[Strophe]
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. 
 

D               B7 
Maxwell Edison, majoring in medicine, 
Em 
Calls her on the phone. 
A7 
"Can I take you out to the pictures, 
D           A 
Jo, oa, oa, an?"
[Refrain]
E7 
But as she's getting ready to go, 
  A7 
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 
Made sure that she was dead.
[Pont]
| D F#/C# | Bm D7/A | G | D |
[Strophe]
D                    B7 
Back in school again Maxwell plays the fool again. 
Em 
Teacher gets annoyed. 
A7 
Wishing to avoid an unpleasant 
D          A 
Sce, E, E, ene, 
 

D                     B7 
She tells Max to stay when the class has gone away, 
Em 
So he waits behind 
A7 
Writing fifty times "I must not be 
D         A 
So, o, o, o.."
[Refrain]
    E7 
But when she turns her back on the boy, 
   A7 
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 
Made sure that she was dead.
[Pont]
| D F#/C# | Bm D7/A | G | D |
[Strophe]
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. 

 
D                 B7 
Rose and Valerie, screaming from the gallery 
Em 
Say he must go free 
    A7 
The judge does not agree and he tells them 
D         A 
So, o, o, o.
[Refrain]
E7 
But as the words are leaving his lips, 
A7 
A noise comes from behind. 
 

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