He was best known as a pioneer of the acoustic blues revival, but his work ranged from old English ballads to Bertolt Brecht, rock, New Orleans jazz, and swing. He was a pioneer of instrumental ragtime guitar, as well as an early supporter of Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell, among many others. Van Ronk was very influential on the music scene in New York City in the 1960s.
His professional musical career started when he moved from Brooklyn to Queens in 1951 and started doing pick-up work in traditional jazz outfits.
Van Ronk died of colorectal cancer (colon cancer) in 2002.
Mack the Knife
Dave Van Ronk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And he shows 'em pearly whites
Just a jackknife has Mac Heath, dear
And he keeps it, well out of sight
When the shark bites, with his teeth, dear
Scarlet billows start to spread
Fancy gloves, though, wears Mac Heath, dear
On the sidewalk, Sunday mornin'
Lies a body oozin' life
Someones sneakin' 'round the corner
Is that someone Mack the Knife?
From a tugboat, by the river
A cement bag droppin' down
The cement, that's just for the weight, dear
I'll bet you Macky's back in town
Mr. Miller, disappeared, dear
After drawin' out all of his cash
Went tap city, and Mac Heath spends like a sailor
Did our boy do, somethin' rash?
Sukey Tawdry, Jenny Diver
Polly Peacham, Miss Lucy Brown
Oh, the line forms on the right, dear
Now that Macky's back in town
"Mack the Knife" by Dave Van Ronk is a song that tells the story of a notorious criminal named Mac Heath. The lyrics suggest that the shark, a symbol of danger and evil, is nothing compared to Mac Heath and his jackknife, which he keeps hidden from sight. The song paints a picture of a violent man who is known for his fancy attire and ability to escape from the law. The line "When the shark bites with his teeth, dear, Scarlet billows start to spread" describes the blood and violence that ensues when Mac Heath attacks his victims.
The lyrics then describe a scene where a body is found on a sidewalk, and someone is seen sneaking around the corner. The question is asked, "Is that someone Mack the Knife?" This implies that Mac Heath is responsible for the gruesome scene, and he is still on the loose. The next verse suggests that Mac Heath has returned to town and that he may be responsible for the disappearance of Mr. Miller, who withdrew all his money before he went missing.
The song ends with a list of women whom Mac Heath is associated with, suggesting his powerful influence over the criminal world. The line "Oh, the line forms on the right, dear, now that Macky's back in town" shows that even though Mac Heath is a violent criminal, there are those who are still drawn to him and his world.
Line by Line Meaning
Though the shark has, pretty teeth, dear
Despite the shark's attractive appearance, it is still a dangerous predator.
And he shows 'em pearly whites
The shark bares its teeth to intimidate its prey.
Just a jackknife has Mac Heath, dear
Mack the Knife carries only a small knife, but it is still lethal.
And he keeps it, well out of sight
Mack the Knife hides his weapon to avoid detection by the authorities.
When the shark bites, with his teeth, dear
When the shark attacks, its sharp teeth cause damage.
Scarlet billows start to spread
Blood from the victim of the shark's attack begins to flow.
Fancy gloves, though, wears Mac Heath, dear
Despite his criminal activities, Mack the Knife dresses in a sophisticated and stylish manner.
So there's not a trace of red
Mack the Knife avoids getting blood on his gloves when he commits crimes.
On the sidewalk, Sunday mornin'
A murder victim is discovered lying on the street on a calm morning.
Lies a body oozin' life
The victim's wounds are severe and blood is leaking out of their body.
Someones sneakin' 'round the corner
A person is seen lurking nearby, possibly responsible for the murder.
Is that someone Mack the Knife?
The person seen around the scene of the crime might be the infamous criminal, Mack the Knife.
From a tugboat, by the river
A person dropping a heavy bag into the water from a boat on the river is observed.
A cement bag droppin' down
The object being dropped into the river is a bag of cement, likely used to weigh down a body.
The cement, that's just for the weight, dear
The cement is not significant itself, but is used to conceal a crime.
I'll bet you Macky's back in town
Mack the Knife is suspected of returning to the area.
Mr. Miller, disappeared, dear
A man named Miller has gone missing.
After drawin' out all of his cash
Miller withdrew all of his money before disappearing.
Went tap city, and Mac Heath spends like a sailor
Mack the Knife spent large amounts of money in the area after Miller's disappearance.
Did our boy do, somethin' rash?
It is suspected that Mack the Knife may have harmed Miller to get his money.
Sukey Tawdry, Jenny Diver
The names of some women involved with Mack the Knife and his criminal activities are mentioned.
Polly Peacham, Miss Lucy Brown
More women who are connected to Mack the Knife's crimes are mentioned.
Oh, the line forms on the right, dear
Many other criminals and shady characters are lining up to be associated with Mack the Knife now that he has returned.
Now that Macky's back in town
Mack the Knife's return has caused a stir among the underworld, and perhaps the public as well.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, ACUM Ltd., Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: Kurt Weill, Bertolt Brecht, Marc Blitzstein
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind