MACK THE KNIFE by Jazz Superstar Gunhild Carling @ Keystone Korner Bar & Restaurant Baltimore 120124

MACK THE KNIFE (German: "Mackie Messer"), also known as The Ballad of Mack the Knife (German: "Die Moritat von Mackie Messer"), is a song originally written by Kurt Weill with lyrics by Bertolt Brecht for their 1928 musical The Threepenny Opera (Die Dreigroschenoper). The song tells the story of Macheath, a criminal from London's underworld, known as "Mack the Knife."

First recorded in the United States by Louis Armstrong in 1955 (you can watch his 1968 performance for the BBC at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZ0OOHLWo4w) with lyrics translated by Marc Blitzstein, the song became a popular standard, covered by many artists. The most famous version came from Bobby Darin in 1959, which became a number one hit in both the US and UK, earning him two Grammys. Ella Fitzgerald also won a Grammy for her rendition in 1961.

The song is a type of Moritat, a medieval murder ballad sung by traveling minstrels. In The Threepenny Opera, the Moritat singer introduces and closes the show by telling the story of Mack the Knife, a character inspired by the highwayman Macheath from The Beggar's Opera, which was based on the real-life thief Jack Sheppard.

LYRICS (Original German, followed by the English version translated by Marc Blitzstein)

DIE MORITAT VON MACKIE MESSER

Und der Haifisch, der hat Zähne
Und der trägt er im Gesicht
Und Macheath, der hat ein Messer
Doch das Messer sieht man nicht.

An 'nem schönen blauen Sonntag
Liegt ein toter Mann am Strand
Und ein Mensch geht um die Ecke
Den man Mackie Messer nennt.

Und Schmul Meier bleibt verschwunden
Wie so mancher reiche Mann
Und sein Geld hat Mackie Messer
Dem man nichts beweisen kann.

Jenny Towler ward gefunden
Mit 'nem Messer in der Brust
Und am Kai geht Mackie Messer
Der von allem nichts gewußt.

Und das große Feuer in Soho
Sieben Kinder und ein Greis -
In der Menge Mackie Messer, den
Man nicht fragt und der nichts weiß.

Und die minderjährige Witwe
Derer Namen jeder weiß
Wachte auf und war geschändet -
Mackie, welches war dein Presis?

Denn die einen sind im Dunkeln
Und die andern sind im Licht
Und man sieht die im Lichte
Die im Dunkeln sieht man nicht.

LYRICS (Louis Armstrong version, translated by Marc Blitzstein):

Dig, man, there goes Mack The Knife!

Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear
And he shows them, a-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, mmm, of red

On the sidewalk, Sunday mornin', baby
Lies a body, oozin' life
Someone sneakin' 'round the corner
Is the someone Mack the Knife?

From a tugboat by the river, baby
A cement bag's drooppin' down
Yeah the cement's just for the weight, dear
Bet you Mack, he's back in town

Lookie here, Louie Miller, disappeared, dear
After drawing out his cash
And MacHeath spends like a sailor
Did our boy do somethin' rash?
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Yes, the line forms on the right, dears
Now that Mackheath's back in town

Take it, Satch