MAXWELL'S SILVER HAMMER

(Lennon/McCartney)
The Beatles
Abby Road (1969)

D D/C# B7 Em
Joan was quizzical, studied pataphysical science in the home,
A7 D A
late nights all alone with a test tube, oh oh oh oh.
D D/C# B7 Em
Maxwell Edison, majoring in medicine, calls her on the phone.
A7 D A
"Can I take you out to the pictures, Jo-o-o-oan?"
E7 A7
But, as she's getting ready to go, a knock comes from the door.

[chorus: note that the guitar solo plays behind the chorus each time]

D E7
Bang! Bang! Maxwell's silver hammer came down upon her head.
A7 Em A7 D A D
Clang! Clang! Maxwell's silver hammer made sure that she was dead.

D F#/C# Bm D7 G D A D

D D/C# B7 Em
Back in school again, Maxwell plays the fool again, teacher gets annoyed.
A7 D A (riff 2: see below)
Wishing to avoid an unpleasant sce-e-e-ene.
D D/C# B7 Em
She tells Max to stay when the class has gone away, so he waits behind.
A7 D A
Writing fifty times "I must not be so-o-o-o."
E7 A7
But, when she turns her back on the boy, he creeps up from behind.

D E7
Bang! Bang! Maxwell's silver hammer came down upon her head.
A7 Em A7
Clang! Clang! Maxwell's silver hammer made sure that she was dead.

(guitar solo: see below)

D E7 A7 Em A7 D A D

D F#/C# Bm D7 G D A D

D D/C# B7 Em
P.C. thirtyone said "We've caught a dirty one.", Maxwell stands alone.
A7 D A (riff 2)
Painting testimonial pictures, oh, oh, oh, oh.
 D D/C# B7 Em
Rose and Valerie, screaming from the gallery, say he must go free.
A7 D A
The judge does not agree and he tells them so-o-o-o.
E7 A7
But, as the words are leaving his lips, a noise comes from behind.

D E7
Bang! Bang! Maxwell's silver hammer came down upon her head.
A7 Em A7
Clang! Clang! Maxwell's silver hammer made sure that he was dead.

(repeat solo)
D E7 A7 Em A7 D A D

D F#/C# Bm D7 G D A D
Sil-ver Ham-mer man!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

riff 2:

|--5----5-----3--2--|
|--5h3--3p5---3--3--|
|-------------------|
|-------------------|
|-------------------|
|-------------------|

solo: this is TWO guitars!

guitar 1:
|---------5--------------------------------------------12-
|--7--7---7-----------------7--9---5h7--5-----10--12------
|--7--7------7/9--7-----9---------------------------------
|--------------------9------------------------------------
|---------------------------------------------------------
|---------------------------------------------------------

guitar 2:
|---------------------------------------------------------
|------------------------------------------------------10-
|--7------7--------------------9--------------9---9-------
|-----7------7/9--7---------9------9h11--9----------------
|--------------------9--11--------------------------------
|---------------------------------------------------------

guitar 1:
--9h10--9-------3----3----3----3----2-----10\------------|
-----------8----5----5----5----5----3-----10\------------|
---------------------------------------------------------|
---------------------------------------------------------|
---------------------------------------------------------|
---------------------------------------------------------|
guitar 2:
---------------------------------------------------------|
--10---10---------------------------------7\-------------|
----------------7h9---7--b(11)9-7h9--7-------------------|
---------------------------------------------------------|
---------------------------------------------------------|
---------------------------------------------------------|

transcribed by Chris Sears

cts@mail.utexas.edu