The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Dig, man, there goes Mack The Knife
Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear
And it shows them pearly white
Just a jackknife has MacHeath, dear
And he keeps it out of sight
When the shark bites with his teeth, dear
Scarlet billows start to spread
Fancy gloves, though, wears MacHeath, dear
So there's not a trace of red
On the sidewalk, sundayy morning, baby
Lies a body oozin' life
Someone's sneakin' 'round the corner
Is this someone Mack the Knife?
From a tugboat, by the river
A cement bag's drooppin' down
Yes, the cement's just for the weight, dear
Bet you Macky's back in town
Lookie here, Louie Miller disappeared, dear
After drawin' out his cash
And MacHeath spends like a sailor
Did our boy do somethin' rash?
Sukey Tawdry, Jenny Diver, Lotte Lenya, sweet Lucy Brown
Oh, the line forms on the right, dears
Now that Macky's back in town
Take it, Satch
Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear
And it shows them pearly white
Just a jackknife has MacHeath, dear
And he keeps it out of sight
When the shark bites with his teeth, dear
Scarlet billows start to spread
Fancy gloves, though, wears MacHeath, dear
So there's not a trace of red
On the sidewalk, sundayy morning, baby
Lies a body oozin' life
Someone's sneakin' 'round the corner
Is this someone Mack the Knife?
From a tugboat, by the river
A cement bag's drooppin' down
Yes, the cement's just for the weight, dear
Bet you Macky's back in town
Lookie here, Louie Miller disappeared, dear
After drawin' out his cash
And MacHeath spends like a sailor
Did our boy do somethin' rash?
Sukey Tawdry, Jenny Diver, Lotte Lenya, sweet Lucy Brown
Oh, the line forms on the right, dears
Now that Macky's back in town
Take it, Satch
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
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This song is from Brecht & Weill's Threepenny Opera, which was itself based on the Beggar's Opera by John Gay. In the Brecht version, Macheath (aka Mack the Knife aka Mackie Messer) is absolutely ruthless. The whole Threepenny Opera is a scathing critique of capitalism, and the song itself is bloody and filled with tales of arson, rape, and murder (sanitized considerably in the most well-known English translation which we know and love). Don't let me catch you playing this at your wedding because no matter what famous crooner sang it, it is not romantic, and it is not appropriate for an insanely expensive party. Brecht would roll over in his grave.
Here are a few sample stanzas from a more faithful translation of the original German (tr. Manheim & Willett):
For everything you ever wanted to know about this song, just search the Internet for "Everything you ever wanted to know about Mack the Knife"...you'll learn a lot.
Mack the Knife is one bad-a$$ mfer.
this song is a fantastic song about a hitman in the 20's you can only begin to imagine what it was like back then great song