Background
While in Rishikesh, India, in early 1968, McCartney began to write the first verse of the song. Having completed most of it by October that year, he intended for its inclusion on the album The Beatles, but it was never properly recorded during those sessions due to time constraints. It was rehearsed again three months later, in January 1969, at Twickenham film studios during the Get Back sessions but would not be recorded for another six months.
Recording
The Beatles began recording the song at EMI Studios (later Abbey Road Studios) in London on 9 July 1969. Sixteen takes of the rhythm track were made, followed by a series of guitar overdubs. Over the following two days the group overdubbed vocals, piano, Hammond organ, anvil, and guitar. For the studio version of the song, the anvil was played by Ringo Starr, in the Beatles film Let It Be, however, Mal Evans is seen hitting the anvil as the Beatles record the track. The song was completed on 6 August, when McCartney recorded a solo on a Moog synthesizer.
The recording subsequently drew comment from the band:
John Lennon said "I was ill after the accident when they did most of that track", referring to his recent car accident, "and it really ground George and Ringo into the ground recording it", adding later "I hate it, 'cos all I remember is the track ... (Paul) did everything to make it into a single, and it never was and it never could have been."
George Harrison characterized the song as "fruity" and commented "we spent a hell of a lot of time on it", and later "after a while, we did a good job on it".
Starr told Rolling Stone in 2008: "The worst session ever was 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer.' It was the worst track we ever had to record. It went on for fucking weeks. I thought it was mad."
McCartney recalled: "The only arguments were about things like me spending three days on Maxwell's Silver Hammer. I remember George saying, 'You've taken three days, it's only a song.' – 'Yeah, but I want to get it right. I've got some thoughts on this one.' It was early-days Moog work and it did take a bit of time".
Maxwell's Silver Hammer
The Beatles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Science in the home
Late nights all alone with a test tube
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Maxwell Edison, majoring in medicine
Calls her on the phone
"Can I take you out to the pictures, Joan?"
But as she's getting ready to go
A knock comes on the door
Bang! Bang! Maxwell's silver hammer
Came down upon her head
Clang! Clang! Maxwell's silver hammer
Made sure that she was dead
Back in school again, Maxwell plays the fool again
Teacher gets annoyed
Wishing to avoid an unpleasant scene
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 (doo doo, doo doo, do)
Clang! Clang! Maxwell's silver hammer
Made sure that she was dead
P.C. 31 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 (doo doo, doo doo, do)
Clang! Clang! Maxwell's silver hammer
Made sure that he was dead, wow, wow, oh
(Doo doo, doo doo, do)
Silver hammer man
"Maxwell's Silver Hammer" is an upbeat and seemingly playful song by The Beatles, but with dark and twisted lyrics. The lyrics tell the story of a medical student, Maxwell Edison, who uses his silver hammer to murder people, starting with his girlfriend, Joan, and then his mean teacher, and even a judge. The song touches upon themes of violence, madness, and justice.
The lyrics start with Joan, who is studying pataphysical science at home, all alone with a test tube. Maxwell calls her on the phone and invites her to the pictures, but before she can leave, he knocks on her door and kills her with his silver hammer. The song then moves to his school days, where Maxwell plays the fool and annoys his teacher, leading her to reprimand him by asking him to write "I must not be so" fifty times. When she turns her back, he murders her as well. In the end, even the judge who tries to convict him meets the same fate.
Interestingly, "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" was one of Paul McCartney's earliest compositions and was recorded and released only after prolonged arguments with his fellow band members. The song was actually recorded during the Let It Be sessions in 1969 but was released only in 1970 on the album Abbey Road. John Lennon was so frustrated with the song's persistent recording that he quit the band briefly.
Line by Line Meaning
Joan was quizzical, studied pataphysical
Joan was curious, studying unconventional science
Science in the home
She studies at home
Late nights all alone with a test tube
She studies and experiments late into the night all by herself
Maxwell Edison, majoring in medicine
Maxwell is studying medicine in college
Calls her on the phone
He calls Joan on the phone
"Can I take you out to the pictures, Joan?"
He asks her out on a date
But as she's getting ready to go
As she prepares to leave
A knock comes on the door
Someone knocks on the door
Bang! Bang! Maxwell's silver hammer
Maxwell hits Joan with a hammer
Came down upon her head
He hits her on the head with the hammer
Clang! Clang! Maxwell's silver hammer
He hits her again with the hammer
Made sure that she was dead
He kills her
Back in school again, Maxwell plays the fool again
Maxwell goes back to school and acts foolish
Teacher gets annoyed
His teacher is irritated with him
Wishing to avoid an unpleasant scene
The teacher wants to avoid causing a scene
She tells Max to stay when the class has gone away
She tells him to stay after class when everyone else has left
So he waits behind
He waits behind
Writing fifty times "I must not be so, o, o, o"
As punishment, he writes a statement 50 times
But when she turns her back on the boy
When the teacher's back is turned
He creeps up from behind
Maxwell sneaks up from behind the teacher
P.C. 31 said, "We caught a dirty one"
The police announce that they have caught someone who committed a crime
Maxwell stands alone
Maxwell is alone in court
Painting testimonial pictures
He paints pictures that serve as evidence
Rose and Valerie, screaming from the gallery
Two women, Rose and Valerie, scream from the audience
Say he must go free (Maxwell must go free)
They demand that Maxwell be set free
The judge does not agree and he tells them
The judge disagrees and tells them so
But as the words are leaving his lips
As he speaks
A noise comes from behind
A noise is heard from behind
Bang! Bang! Maxwell's silver hammer
Someone hits Maxwell with a hammer
Came down upon his head
He is hit on the head with the hammer
Clang! Clang! Maxwell's silver hammer
He is hit again with the hammer
Made sure that he was dead, wow, wow, oh
He is killed with the hammer
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul Mccartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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