Maxwell's Silver Hammer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Beatles - Maxwell's Silver Hammer [Early Mix]
"Maxwell's Silver Hammer" is my analogy for when something goes wrong out of the blue, as it so often does, as I was beginning to find out at that time in my life. I wanted something symbolic of that, so to me it was some fictitious character called Maxwell with a silver hammer. I don't know why it was silver, it just sounded better than Maxwell's hammer. It was needed for scanning. We still use that expression now when something unexpected happens."

• The silver hammer may thus be analogous to a silver bullet, a simple way of getting rid of a complex problem.

• McCartney referred to the song when talking about his 2005 album Chaos and Creation in the Backyard:
• "In the past I may have written tongue-in-cheek, like 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer', and dealt with matters of fate in a kind of comical, parody manner. It just so happens in this batch of songs I would look at these subjects and thought it was good for writing. If it's good enough to take to your psychiatrist, it's good enough to make a song of."

• According to Lennon, the band spent more money on that song than any other on Abbey Road, and he derided the song at the time as a prime example of McCartney's "granny-style" writing.

• George Harrison described it in 1969 as "one of those instant whistle-along tunes which some people hate, and other people really like. It's a fun song, but it's kind of a drag because Maxwell keeps on destroying everyone like his girlfriend then the school teacher, and then, finally, the judge." In 1977, Harrison would be less charitable, stating "I mean, my God, 'Maxwell's Silver Hammer' was so fruity."[8]

• Even Ringo Starr recalled in an interview in early 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." [9] [10]

A Silver Hammer is used to strike a dead Pope of the Roman Catholic Church in the head, twice, to be sure he is dead before electing a new Pope.



i like how: each beatles' outlook on the matter pretty much summarizes their 'character' & role in the family (post-divorce, o f course)

1. "prime example of McCartney's 'granny-style'" - LENNON (dad: revolutionary: no time for mom's whimsy & attachment to the joy of a timeless ditty)

2. " one of those instant whistle-along tunes which some people hate, and other people really like." - HARRISON ('uncle': the peace-maker: unconditionally validates any creation without judgement, reminding mom and dad that all things are both beautiful and ugly - reminding the unaware son that it is this duality that gives ALL things a purpose, and should not be judged or discarded quickly.

3. "It was the worst track we ever had to record. It went on for fucking weeks. I thought it was mad." - RINGO (son: here because he has to be; follows instructions to get his allowance; impatient & -perhaps disillusioned from the rest of the family limiting his involvement, while forcing his participation - disinterested; begrudged, stubbornly unenlightened, feeling the need to pass juvenile (and as mom calls it 'negative nancy') judgement 'just to make his point-' being sure to throw in a curse word to REALLY stick it to mom, dad & wise uncle george.

end transmission.