Bobby Darin

Mack the Knife

 

• Written by:  Kurt Weill/E. Bertolt Brecht/Marc Blitzstein
• Written in 1928 as “Moritat” or “Theme from the Threepenny Opera” aka “The Beggar’s Opera” and introduced in that production by Weill’s wife, Lotte Lenya
• Produced by:  Ahmet Ertegun/Nesuhi Ertegun/Jerry Wexler
• Arranged by:  Richard Wess
• Orchestra conducted by:  Richard Wess
• Appears on:  That’s All ~ The Bobby Darin Story ~ Darin at the Copa ~ The Legendary Bobby Darin ~ Something Special LPs
• A Side of:  “Was There a Call for Me”   
• Recorded:  December 19, 1958
• Released:  August 1959
• The #5 song of the 1955-59 Rock Era
• Was #1 for 9 weeks in 1959
• 14^th most popular single in Billboards HOT 100 History
• Bobby’s first (and only) number one song
• Won the Grammy for “Record of the Year” in 1959
• “What CD is this Darin song on?”   

 

 

Intro in Audio

 

 

      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 … ah … out of sight.

      Ya know when that shark bites, with his teeth, babe

      Scarlet billows start to spread

      Fancy gloves, though, wears old MacHeath, babe

      So there’s nevah, nevah a trace of red.

      Now on the sidewalk … uuh, huh … whoo … sunny mornin’ … uuh, huh

      Lies a body just oozin’ life … eeek!

      And someone’s sneakin’ ‘round the corner

      Could that someone be Mack the Knife?

      A-there’s a tugboat … huh, huh, huh … down by the river don’tcha know

      Where a cement bag’s just a’droopin’ on down

      Oh, that cement is just, it’s there for the weight, dear

      Five’ll get ya ten old Macky’s back in town.

      Now, d’ja 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 … ho, ho … yeah … Sukey Tawdry       

      Ooh … Miss Lotte Lenya and old Lucy Brown 

      Oh, the line forms on the right, babe

      Now that Macky’s back in town.

      Aah … I said Jenny Diver … whoa … Sukey Tawdry

      Look out to 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 Macky is back!