MACK THE KNIFE by Jazz Superstar Gunhild Carling @ Keystone Korner Bar & Restaurant Baltimore 120124

MACK THE KNIFE (German: "Mackie Messer"), also known as The Ballad of Mack the Knife (German: "Die Moritat von Mackie Messer"), is a song originally written by Kurt Weill with lyrics by Bertolt Brecht for their 1928 musical The Threepenny Opera (Die Dreigroschenoper). The song tells the story of Macheath, a criminal from London's underworld, known as "Mack the Knife." First recorded in the United States by Louis Armstrong in 1955 (you can watch his 1968 performance for the BBC at    • Louis Armstrong - Mack The Knife (Live At ...  ) with lyrics translated by Marc Blitzstein, the song became a popular standard, covered by many artists. The most famous version came from Bobby Darin in 1959, which became a number one hit in both the US and UK, earning him two Grammys. Ella Fitzgerald also won a Grammy for her rendition in 1961. The song is a type of Moritat, a medieval murder ballad sung by traveling minstrels. In The Threepenny Opera, the Moritat singer introduces and closes the show by telling the story of Mack the Knife, a character inspired by the highwayman Macheath from The Beggar's Opera, which was based on the real-life thief Jack Sheppard. LYRICS (Original German, followed by the English version translated by Marc Blitzstein) DIE MORITAT VON MACKIE MESSER Und der Haifisch, der hat Zähne Und der trägt er im Gesicht Und Macheath, der hat ein Messer Doch das Messer sieht man nicht. An 'nem schönen blauen Sonntag Liegt ein toter Mann am Strand Und ein Mensch geht um die Ecke Den man Mackie Messer nennt. Und Schmul Meier bleibt verschwunden Wie so mancher reiche Mann Und sein Geld hat Mackie Messer Dem man nichts beweisen kann. Jenny Towler ward gefunden Mit 'nem Messer in der Brust Und am Kai geht Mackie Messer Der von allem nichts gewußt. Und das große Feuer in Soho Sieben Kinder und ein Greis - In der Menge Mackie Messer, den Man nicht fragt und der nichts weiß. Und die minderjährige Witwe Derer Namen jeder weiß Wachte auf und war geschändet - Mackie, welches war dein Presis? Denn die einen sind im Dunkeln Und die andern sind im Licht Und man sieht die im Lichte Die im Dunkeln sieht man nicht. LYRICS (Louis Armstrong version, translated by Marc Blitzstein): Dig, man, there goes Mack The Knife! Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear And he shows them, a-pearly white Just a jackknife has Macheath, dear And he keeps it out of sight When the shark bites with his teeth, dear Scarlet billows start to spread Fancy gloves though wears Macheath, dear So there’s not a trace, mmm, of red On the sidewalk, Sunday mornin', baby Lies a body, oozin' life Someone sneakin' 'round the corner Is the someone Mack the Knife? From a tugboat by the river, baby A cement bag's drooppin' down Yeah the cement's just for the weight, dear Bet you Mack, he's back in town Lookie here, Louie Miller, disappeared, dear After drawing out his cash And MacHeath spends like a sailor Did our boy do somethin' rash? See upcoming R&B shows Get tickets for your favorite artists You might also like Summertime George Gershwin Boy’s a liar Pt. 2 PinkPantheress & Ice Spice Die With A Smile Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars Suky Tawdry, Jenny Diver Lotte Lenya, sweet Lucy Brown Yes, the line forms on the right, dears Now that Mackheath's back in town Take it, Satch