“Mack the Knife” is a song from the 1928 German play Die Dreigroschenoper. The song has been covered by many artists over the years, most notably Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Bobby Darin, and it remains one of the most popular jazz standards of all time. In this article, we’ll take a look at the full lyrics of the song, and explore its enduring popularity.
Overview of “Mack the Knife”
“Mack the Knife” is a popular jazz standard written by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht for the 1928 German play Die Dreigroschenoper. The song tells the story of a criminal known as Mack the Knife, or Mackie Messer, who is feared by everyone in town. It is a darkly humorous song that paints a vivid picture of the characters in the play, and its catchy melody has made it one of the most popular jazz standards ever written.
Full Lyrics of the Song
The opening lyrics of the song set the scene for the story of Mack the Knife:
“Oh, the shark, has pearly teeth,
And he shows ’em pearly white.
Just a jackknife has Macheath, dear
And he keeps it out of sight.”
The chorus of the song explains just how feared Mack is in the town:
“Oh, the shark, bites with his teeth, dear
And Macheath, he’s got a knife.
But when the shark, he bites with his teeth, dear
Scarlet billows start to spread.”
The next verse of the song paints a picture of Mack’s criminal acts:
“From the Thames to the Rhine
Mackie’s done some dirty deeds.
Dead cats and broken glass
In the market square.”
The song then goes on to describe the consequences of Mack’s actions:
“Oh, the line forms on the right, dear
Now that Mackie’s back in town.
And the line forms on the right, dear
And they’re cuttin’ them down.”
The final verse of the song sees Mackie Messer as a romantic figure, despite his criminal activities:
“Oh, the line forms on the right, dear
Now that Mackie’s back in town.
And the line forms on the right, dear
And he’s lookin’ for love.”
“Mack the Knife” is an enduring jazz standard that has been covered by many artists over the years. Its darkly humorous lyrics and catchy melody make it one of the most popular jazz songs of all time.