"Maxwell's Silver Hammer": Most cheerful song about a serial killer

[Beware the Beast Man]

Discuss.

[emulatorloo]

1. Often Dismissed as "Kiddie Music," it is Dark Nasty Fun

Cheery Music, hilariously creepy lyrics. . .I LIKE IT!

Thanks for posting.

[Mistress Quickly]

2. Good whistling tune!

HA HA HA I made it! I made it! I'm at 800, I've escaped I've escaped. la la la la la

[Richardo]

3. Oingo Boingo's "Only A Lad" also a light-hearted romp...

...in tone anyway. More rockin' than Maxwell.

Plus "Johnny" only killed one person, so he's not really a 'serial' killer. :shrug:

[Rufus T. Firefly]

4. Absolutely LOVE it.

Just because it's such an upbeat tune about whacking people in the head with a hammer until they are dead. Paul somehow thought it would make a great single. Don't think that would have worked.

By the way, in the second verse, when he sings "left behind," and kind of wavers then laughs, it's because John mooned him.

[Beware the Beast Man]

5. No kidding? I had no idea!

I know he snickers on the "writing 50 times" part. I had no idea John was mooning him. Funny!

[Zomby Woof]

6. Maybe, but...

"Excitable Boy" by Warren Zevon is downright celebratory, complete with Linda Ronstadt offering some cheerful 'doo-wah's'.

[Ivan Sputnik]

7. What is "pataphysical science"?

I always thought it was "metaphysical," but all the printed lyrics I've seen for this song have it as "pataphysical."

[jpgray]

8. I always heard it right, but then I'm a big Soft Machine fan

It's a sort of nonsense Dadaist term, pardoying modern science and ostensibly the study of what lies beyond the realm of metaphysics.

[apnu]

9. best beatle song ever!!!! n/t

[Bertha Venation]

10. Thanks for the earworm.

:hi:

[Tummler]

11. As right-wing pundit John McLaughlin might shout, "WRONG!"

The Chicago-based thrash/death-metal band MACABRE have made a career out of cheerful songs, almost reminiscent of nursery rhymes, about serial killers. From the Dahmer album alone, you have:

* "Jeffrey Dahmer and the Chocolate Factory" using the tune of the "Oompa Loompa Song."

* "Grandmother's House," a play on the folk song "Over the River and Through the Woods."

* "Coming to Chicago," a play on the folk song "She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain."

More lyrics, including their masterpiece Sinister Slaughter!

[Westegg]

12. Least cheerful song about a serial killer: "Ted Just Admit It."