“Mack the Knife” is a popular song written by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht for their 1928 musical “The Threepenny Opera” (original German title: “Die Dreigroschenoper”). The song gained widespread recognition and achieved even greater success when it was recorded by American singer Bobby Darin in 1959.
Bobby Darin’s rendition of “Mack the Knife” became his signature song and one of the biggest hits of his career. Released as a single, it topped the charts in the United States and earned him two Grammy Awards in 1960: Record of the Year and Best New Artist. Darin’s version is known for its upbeat, jazzy arrangement and his charismatic performance.
The lyrics of “Mack the Knife” tell the story of a fictional criminal named Mackie Messer (Mack the Knife) and his nefarious activities. Darin’s smooth vocals and the catchy melody contributed to the song’s appeal, despite its dark subject matter.
Bobby Darin, born Walden Robert Cassotto in 1936, was a versatile American singer, songwriter, and actor. He was known for his ability to perform various musical styles, including pop, rock and roll, jazz, and swing. Aside from “Mack the Knife,” Darin had several other successful hits during his career, such as “Beyond the Sea,” “Dream Lover,” and “Splish Splash.”
Darin’s version of “Mack the Knife” remains a beloved classic and is often considered one of the definitive recordings of the song. Its popularity has led to numerous cover versions by various artists over the years, solidifying its status as a timeless piece of music.
On a personal note, this is the song that made me fall in love with Bobby Darin.
Lyrics:
Oh the shark, babe
Has such teeth, dear
And it shows them
Pearly white
Just a jack knife
Has old MacHeath, babe
And it keeps it, uh
Out of sight
You know when that shark bites
With its teeth, babe
Scarlet billows
Star to spread
Fancy gloves, though
Wears old MacHeath babe
So there’s never,
Never a trace of red
Now on the sidewalk, a-huh, huh
Ooh, sunny morning, a-huh
Likes a body
Just a-oozing life, ekk!
And someone’s sneakin’
‘Round the corner
Could that someone
Be Mack the Knife?
There’s a tugboat, huh, huh, a-huh
Down by the river, don’cha know?
Where a cement bag
Just a-droopin’ on down
Oh, that cement is just,
It’s there for the weight, dear
Five’ll get ya’
Ten ol’ Macky’s back in town
Did you hear about Louie Miller?
He disappeared, babe
After drawin’ out
All his hard earned cash
And now MacHeath spends
Just like a sailor
Could it be our boy’s
Down something rash?
Ah, Jenny Diver
Yeah, Suki Tawdry
Ooh, Miss Lotte Lenya
And ole’ Lucy Brown
Oh, the line forms
On the right, babe
Now that Macky’s
Back in town
I said Jenny Diver
Whoa, Suki Tawdry
Look out to Miss Lotte Lenya
And ole’ Lucy Brown
Oh, the line forms
On the right, babe
Now that Macky’s
Back in town
Look out ol’ Macky is back!