Mack The Knife

Bobby Darin

Mack the Knife - Bobby Darin

Originally a German opera song, Mack the Knife was brought to the American music scene by Louis Armstrong in 1956. Bobby Darin recorded the song in 1958 where it topped the charts at #1 in the US and UK but was not long after banned by the BBC.

Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear
And it shows them pearly white
Just a jackknife has old MacHeath, babe
And he keeps it, out of sight
Ya know when that shark bites with his teeth, babe
Scarlet billows start to spread
Fancy gloves, oh, wears old MacHeath,
So there’s never, never a trace of red

Now on the sidewalk, huh, huh, ooh sunny mornin’, uh huh
Lies a body oozin’ life, eek
And someone’s seein’ clear ‘round the corner
Could that someone be Mack the Knife?

There’s a tugboat, huh, huh, down by the river don’tcha know
Where a cement bag just droopin’ on down
Oh, that cement is just, it’s there for the weight, dear
Five’ll1 get ya ten old Macky’s back in town

Now d’ja hear ‘bout Louie Miller? He disappeared, honey
After drawin’ out all his hard-earned cash
And now MacHeath spends like a sailor
Could it be our boy’s done somethin’ rash? 

Now Jenny Diver, Ho! Ho! look out, Sukey Tawdry 
Ooh, Miss Lotte Lenya not to mention old Lucy Brown
Oh, the line forms on the right, babe
Now that Macky’s back in town

I said Jenny Diver, look out, Sukey Tawdry
stay back Miss Lotte Lenya and old Lucy Brown
Yes, that line forms on the right, babe
Now that Macky’s back in town
look out old Mack Heath is back