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Bing Crosby feat. Louis Armstrong Lyrics
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And he shows 'em, pearly white
Just a jack knife has Macheath dear
And he keeps it way out of sight
When that shark bites with his teeth, dear
Scarlet billows they begin to spread
Fancy white gloves has Macheath dear
On the sidewalk, one Sunday morning
Lies a body, oozin' life
Someone's sneaking 'round the corner
Could that someone perhaps, per chance be Mack the Knife
From a tugboat, on the river going slow
A cement bag is dropping down
You know that cement is for the weight dear
You can make a large bet Macheath's in town
My man Louis Miller, he split the scene babe
After drawing out all the bread from his stash
Now Macheath spends like a sailor
Do you suppose this guy, he did something rash
Old Satchmo, Louis Armstrong, Bobby Darrin
They did this song nice, Lady Ella too
They all sang it, with so much feeling
That Old Blue Eyes, he ain't gonna add nothing new
But with this big, fat band, jumping behind me
Swinging hard, Jack, I know I can't lose
When I tell you, all about Mack the Knife babe
It's an offer, you can never refuse
We got Patrick Williams, Bill Miller playing that piano
And this wonderful, great big band, bringing up the rear
All these bad cats, in this band now
They make the greatest sounds, you're ever gonna hear
Oh Sookie Taudry, Jenny Diver, Polly Peachum, Old Miss Lulu Brown
Hey the line forms, on the right dear
Now that Macheath, that bum is back in town
You'd better lock your doors, and call the law
Because Mackie's back in town
The classic song "Mack the Knife," as performed by Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong, is a jazzy ballad that tells a story of a dangerous figure named Macheath, known as Mack the Knife. The song describes Mack as a sly and deadly criminal, with the first verse comparing him to a shark that reveals its pearly white teeth. Meanwhile, Macheath's weapon of choice, a jackknife, is kept hidden from view. The second verse describes the aftermath of Macheath's crimes, with bodies left on the sidewalk and cement bags used to dispose of evidence. The final verse serves as a warning to listeners that Mack is back in town and to lock their doors and call the law. The song is a commentary on the glamorization of crime and the danger of overlooking the true nature of criminals.
One interesting fact about "Mack the Knife" is that it was originally composed by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht for their 1928 musical Die Dreigroschenoper (The Threepenny Opera). The song, titled "Die Moritat von Mackie Messer" in its original German version, quickly became a hit and has since been translated into numerous languages. The English-language version of the song, with new lyrics by Marc Blitzstein, was introduced to American audiences in 1954 by Louis Armstrong.
The Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong version of "Mack the Knife" was recorded in 1960 and was later included on Crosby's album "Fancy Meeting You Here," which featured collaborations with various artists. The album was well-received by critics and fans alike and has since become a classic of the jazz vocal genre.
Another interesting fact is that "Mack the Knife" has been covered by numerous artists over the years, including Ella Fitzgerald, Bobby Darin, and Michael Bublé. The song has also been featured in several movies, including the classic film adaptation of The Threepenny Opera in 1931 and the 1989 Tim Burton film Batman.
The chords for "Mack the Knife" are as follows:
Verse: Cm-G7-Cm-G7-Cm-G7-D7-G7
Chorus: C7-F7-C7-F7-Bb7-Ab7-G7
Overall, "Mack the Knife" is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with audiences today. Its catchy melody and clever lyrics make it a favorite among jazz fans and music lovers of all ages.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear
The shark, despite being a dangerous predator, has an aesthetically pleasing physical feature.
And he shows 'em, pearly white
The shark bares its teeth, which possess a clean and white shine.
Just a jack knife has Macheath dear
Macheath possesses only a simple knife that he utilizes for dubious purposes.
And he keeps it way out of sight
He keeps the dangerous weapon hidden from the sight of authorities or anyone who might suspect him.
When that shark bites with his teeth, dear
When the shark uses its strong teeth to attack prey,
Scarlet billows they begin to spread
It causes a great deal of blood to surge out of the victim.
Fancy white gloves has Macheath dear
Macheath uses splendid gloves in order to deceive others as to his true nature.
So there's never,never a trace of red
The gloves aid Macheath in not showing any evidence of the violent acts he has committed.
On the sidewalk, one Sunday morning
In broad daylight on a weekend morning,
Lies a body, oozin' life
A dead body is present, still seeping out its vital fluid.
Someone's sneaking 'round the corner
An individual creeps cautiously around the street corner
Could that someone perhaps, per chance be Mack the Knife
There is the suspicion that this person might be Macheath, who has a history of violent activities.
From a tugboat, on the river going slow
Whilst observing the slowness of a river-bound tugboat,
A cement bag is dropping down
A bag of cement is falling from the boat.
You know that cement is for the weight dear
The cement is intended to provide additional mass and thus increased weight.
You can make a large bet Macheath's in town
It is highly probable that Macheath is residing in the area.
My man Louis Miller, he split the scene, babe
Louis Miller quickly fled town
After drawing out all the bread from his stash
He took all his money from where he stored it.
Now Macheath spends like a sailor
Macheath is now lavishly spending that which is rightfully Louis'.
Do you suppose this guy, he did something rash
Is it plausible that Louis committed an irrationally impulsive act?
Old Satchmo, Louis Armstrong, Bobby Darrin
Famous singers and musicians, known also for performing this song with skill and emotion.
They did this song nice, Lady Ella too
The musical talents of Ella Fitzgerald was also utilized effectively in the delivery of this song.
They all sang it, with so much feeling
The singers put immense amounts of emotion into their performance of this song.
That Old Blue Eyes, he ain't gonna add nothing new
Frank Sinatra is not going to contribute anything different or innovative in his interpretation.
But with this big, fat band, jumping behind me
However, this performance does have the backing of a very large band that can provide momentum to the song.
Swinging hard, Jack, I know I can't lose
With the willingness to put in significant effort, there is very little chance of failure.
When I tell you, all about Mack the Knife, babe
When I inform you of the doings and happenings of Macheath,
It's an offer, you can never refuse
I am so sure of the compulsive nature of his story that you will be unable to reject it.
We got Patrick Williams, Bill Miller playing that piano
The band for this song includes Patrick Williams and Bill Miller, both skilled pianists.
And this wonderful, great big band, bringing up the rear
Additionally, there is a tremendous amount of instrumental support for this performance.
All these bad cats, in this band now
The band members are all talented and cool.
They make the greatest sounds, you're ever gonna hear
The music being played by this band is some of the best you will ever hear.
Oh Sookie Taudry, Jenny Diver, Polly Peachum, Old Miss Lulu Brown
Here are some names of characters who may be encountered in the story.
Hey the line forms, on the right dear
There is an anticipated arrival of people, who might be looking to get something.
Now that Macheath, that bum is back in town
Now that Macheath has returned to the area,
You'd better lock your doors, and call the law
It is imperative that you protect yourself and call for emergency services.
Because Mackie's back in town
The person of interest whose reappearance requires one's vigilance.
Writer(s): MITCHELL, PINKARD, ALEXANDER
Contributed by Eli Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
VictrolaJazz
One of my favorites of the 20's! I played the Columbia version over and over until I wore myself out on it, but this is gorgeous! A classic never goes out of style!
Gramophonic Reevolution
The timing, phrasing, instruments, the whole shabang this LP never dates. I do hope you are able to hear every track and YouTube don't block any. There is a link to the entire playlist. Glad you are enjoying them. Cheers Paul