Louis Armstrong

Mack the Knife

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Mack the Knife Lyrics

Oh, the shark, has pretty teeth, dear....and he shows them pearly white
Just a jackknife has MacHeath, babe.....and he keeps it, out of sight
When that shark bites with his teeth, dear....scarlet billows start to spread
Just a gloved hand, has MacHeath, babe..and he never shows a single drop of red

On the sidewalk...Sunday morning, commin' down...lies a body oozin' life
Someone's sneakin' 'round the corner...could that someone be Mack the Knife?

(instrumental break)

There's a tugboat....down by the river.....with a cement bag, hangin' down
Oh, the cement's just for weight, dear...five'll get ya ten old Macky's back in town
Ole Louie Miller disappeared, babe...after he withdrew all his cash
Now MacHeath spends like a sailor...could it be our boy's...done somethin' rash?

There's Jenny Diver, and Sukey Tawdry..Miss Lotte Lenya, and ole Lucy Brown
Oh, the line forms on the right, babe.....now that Macky's back in town

I said that line forms on the right, babe.....now that Macky's back in town.

Submitted by

anna118k On Jun 10, 2002

What A Wonderful World

A Kiss To Build A Dream On

La Vie En Rose

Hello, Dolly!

Jeepers Creepers

On the sidewalk...Sunday morning, commin' down...lies a body oozin' life
Someone's sneakin' 'round the corner...could that someone be Mack the Knife?

(instrumental break)

There's Jenny Diver, and Sukey Tawdry..Miss Lotte Lenya, and ole Lucy Brown
Oh, the line forms on the right, babe.....now that Macky's back in town

I said that line forms on the right, babe.....now that Macky's back in town.

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anna118k

Submitter

2002-06-10 13:05:34

3 Meanings

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by miesvanderrobot

20y ago

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):

And the ghastly fire in Soho,
Seven children at a go—
In the crowd stands Mack the knife, but
He's not asked and doesn't know.

And the child bride in her nightie,
Whose assailant's still at large
Violated in her slumbers—
Mackie how much did you charge?

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.

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by FilibusterMan

20y ago

Mack the Knife is one bad-a$$ mfer.

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by mattyboy11891

20y ago

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

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