Performed and produced by Bob Forbes. Public Domain.
Story behind the song
From the 1928 German music drama The Threepenny Opera (Die Dreigroschenoper). The song tells of a knife-wielding criminal of the London underworld from the musical named Macheath, the "Mack the Knife" of the title.
Lyrics
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.
You know when that shark bites, with his teeth, babe,
Scarlet billows start to spread.
Fancy gloves oh wears old MacHeath, babe,
So there's never, never a trace of red.
Now on the sidewalk uh huh whoo sunny mornin',
Lies a body just oozin' life. EEK!
And someone's sneakin' 'round the corner,
Could that someone be Mack the Knife?
There's a tugboat uh huh down by the river don't cha know,
Where a cement bag's just a-droopin' on down.
Oh that cement is just there for the weight dear,
Five'll get you ten old Macky's back in town.
Now did ya hear 'bout 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 done somethin' rash?
Now Jenny Diver o ho yeah Sukey Tawdry,
Ooh, Miss Lottie Lenya and old Lucy Brown -
Oh the line forms on the right babe,
Now that Macky's back in town.
I said Jenny Diver whoa Sukey Tawdry,
Look out to Miss Lottie Lenya and old Lucy Brown.
Yes that line forms on the right babe,
Now that Macky's back in town.
Look out old Macky's back!