Sugar
Count Basie Orchestra and Joe Williams Lyrics

Oh, the shark has pretty teeth, dear
Mack the Knife is a dangerous criminal who appears harmless on the outside.

And he shows 'em, pearly white
Mack the Knife is proud of his crimes and is not afraid to show off his teeth, which symbolize his viciousness.

Just a jack knife has Macheath, dear
Mack the Knife carries with him only a simple knife that he uses to commit his violent crimes.

And he keeps it way out of sight
Mack the Knife keeps his weapon hidden, which makes him all the more dangerous.

When that shark bites with his teeth, dear
When Mack the Knife attacks, his victims are left with blood on their hands.

Scarlet billows they begin to spread
Blood spills everywhere after Mack the Knife attacks and people start to notice.

Fancy white gloves has Macheath, dear
Mack the Knife dresses impeccably and doesn't leave any evidence behind when he commits his crimes.

So there's never, never a trace of red
There is no trace left behind after Mack the Knife commits his acts of violence.

On the sidewalk, one Sunday morning
A violent crime has taken place and a person's life is now in danger.

Lies a body oozin' life
The person who was attacked is still alive but is in critical condition.

Someone's sneaking 'round the corner
Another criminal is lurking in the shadows, perhaps to commit another violent act.

Could that someone perhaps, per chance be Mack the Knife?
There is a possibility that it was Mack the Knife who attacked the person on the sidewalk.

From a tugboat on the river going slow
Something shady is happening on the river as criminals transport goods discreetly on a boat.

A cement bag is dropping down
One of the criminals is dropping a bag of cement into the water, possibly as a way to dispose of evidence.

You know that cement is for the weight, dear
Mack the Knife is using the cement as a way to get rid of a body or evidence.

You can make a large bet Macheath's in town
Mack the Knife is back and causing trouble in the city once again.

My man Louis Miller he split the scene, babe
A friend of the singer has left town after losing all his money to Mack the Knife.

After drawing out all the bread from his stash
Louis Miller withdrew all his money before leaving town, but Mack the Knife likely got to him first.

Now Macheath spends like a sailor
Mack the Knife is now spending all the money he has taken from Louis Miller, just as a sailor might spend his pay.

Do you suppose this guy he did something rash?
The singer wonders if Louis Miller did something foolish to provoke Mack the Knife's attack.

Old Satchmo, Louis Armstrong, Bobby Darrin
These notable singers also sang this song.

They did this song nice, Lady Ella too
Ella Fitzgerald also performed a beautiful version of this song.

They all sang it with so much feeling
The singers put a lot of emotion and artistry into their performances of this song.

That Old Blue Eyes he ain't gonna add nothing new
Frank Sinatra may not have anything new to bring to the song, as it has already been performed brilliantly by other singers.

But with this big fat band jumping behind me
The singer has a talented band backing him up that energizes his performance.

Swinging hard, Jack, I know I can't lose
The music is so powerful that the singer knows he is going to make a great impression on his listeners.

When I tell you all about Mack the Knife, babe
The singer is about to recount the story of Mack the Knife, which is a thrilling tale full of danger and excitement.

It's an offer you can never refuse
The singer invites his audience to listen to his story of Mack the Knife and promises that they will be captivated by it.

We got Patrick Williams, Bill Miller playing that piano
The singer takes a moment to acknowledge the talented musicians in his band.

And this wonderful, great big band bringing up the rear
The band is a driving force behind the singer's performance and helps bring the song to life.

All these bad cats in this band now
The band members are all incredibly talented and skilled at their respective instruments.

They make the greatest sounds you're ever gonna hear
The band produces music of the highest caliber that is sure to impress anyone who hears it.

Oh Sookie Taudry, Jenny Diver, Polly Peachum, Old Miss Lulu Brown
These are all characters from the original stage show of The Threepenny Opera, which Mack the Knife comes from.

Hey, the line forms on the right, dear
The singer is referring to a line of people waiting to be paid back money by Mack the Knife.

Now that Macheath that bum is back in town
Mack the Knife has returned to the city and trouble is sure to follow.

You'd better lock your doors and call the law
The singer warns his listeners to take extra precautions now that Mack the Knife is back in town.

Because Mackie's back in town
The song ends with a final reminder that Mack the Knife has returned and is sure to cause chaos and danger in the city once again.