1) Edward Thomas Fisher

A jazz guitarist born in Little Rock, Arkans… Read Full Bio ↴1) Edward Thomas Fisher

A jazz guitarist born in Little Rock, Arkansas. Died of cancer on July 12, 2007.

Eddie Fisher spent the first 17 years of his life in Little Rock, Arkansas. From the age of 10, he developed a love for music; influenced and supported by his father. After graduating from high school, Fisher left home and headed for Memphis, Tennessee, where he continued to improve his guitar technique and musical skills. He spent the next several years touring with such famous musicians as Salomon Burke and Albert King. Fisher then became a founding member of the Leo's Five Band and decided to settle down in St. Louis, Missouri.

Eddie Fisher worked as Albert King's bandleader before embarking on a solo career. He released two classic albums, "The Third Cup" and "The Next One Hundred Years", blending soul, funk, jazz and touches of psychedelia, in the late 1960's.

Eddie Fisher's third album "Hot Lunch" was released on the All Platinum label, and after that he launched his own indie operation Nentu. In 2004, he was voted into the Arkansas Jazz Hall of Fame.

BMI credits Eddie Juni Fisher for song compositions.

2) Eddie Fisher was an actor and teen idol known for his pop ballads in the 1950s. A pre-Rock and Roll vocalist, Fisher's strong and melodious tenor made him a teen idol and one of the most popular singers of the 1950s. He had seventeen songs in the Top 10 on the music charts between 1950 and 1956 and thirty-five in the Top 40.

Fisher has performed in top concert halls all over the United States and headlined in major Las Vegas showrooms. He has headlined at the Palace Theater in New York City as well as London's Palladium.

Fisher has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for Recording, at 6241 Hollywood Boulevard, and one for TV, at 1724 Vine Street.

He was married to actress/singer Debbie Reynolds. They had a daughter, Carrie Fisher, who would later become an actress.

Born August 10, 1928 and died September 22, 2010 of complications from hip surgery.

Mack the Knife
Eddie Fisher Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Though the shark has, pretty teeth, dear
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

So there's not a trace of red

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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Eddie Fisher's song "Mack the Knife" paint a vivid picture of a dangerous and mysterious character named Mac Heath, also known as Mack the Knife. The song highlights the stark contrast between Mac Heath's charming appearance and his hidden, sinister intentions.

The first verse introduces Mac Heath as someone who keeps a dangerous weapon, a jackknife, hidden out of sight. The lyrics suggest that while Mac Heath may appear friendly and harmless, he possesses a weapon that can cause harm and even death.

The second verse further emphasizes Mac Heath's duality. When he attacks, the consequences are severe, symbolized by the "scarlet billows" that start to spread. However, Mac Heath wears fancy gloves, ensuring that there is no trace of blood on him. The image of a shark with "pretty teeth" and the contrasts between the scarlet billows and Mac Heath's glove-wearing suggests a calculated and dangerous individual who can clean up after his actions.

The third verse adds to the intrigue surrounding Mac Heath's return. A body lying on the sidewalk on a Sunday morning suggests that a crime has occurred, and someone suspects that Mac Heath is involved. The mention of a cement bag dropping from a tugboat into the river further heightens the sense of danger. The lyrics insinuate that this cement is used to dispose of evidence, implying that Mac Heath is involved in criminal activities.

The fourth verse introduces Mr. Miller, who disappears after withdrawing his money. Mac Heath is suspected of being involved, as he spends recklessly like a sailor. The lyrics ask whether Mac Heath did something rash, hinting at a possible motive for his actions.

The final verse mentions several female characters, Sukey Tawdry, Jenny Diver, Polly Peacham, and Miss Lucy Brown, all of whom seem to have a connection to Mac Heath. The lyrics imply that Mac Heath's return has sparked the interest of these women, suggesting a complex web of relationships and intrigues.

Overall, the lyrics to "Mack the Knife" depict a charismatic yet dangerous character who engages in criminal activities and leaves a trail of intrigue and suspicion in his wake.

Line by Line Meaning

Though the shark has, pretty teeth, dear
Despite the shark's attractive appearance and sharp teeth, my dear

And he shows 'em pearly whites
And he proudly displays his white teeth

Just a jackknife has Mac Heath, dear
Only a small pocketknife belongs to Mac Heath, my dear

And he keeps it, well out of sight
And he ensures that it remains hidden and unseen

When the shark bites, with his teeth, dear
When the shark attacks, using its teeth, my dear

Scarlet billows start to spread
Red waves of blood begin to spread

Fancy gloves, though, wears Mac Heath, dear
However, Mac Heath wears elegant gloves, my dear

So there's not a trace of red
So that there are no signs of blood

On the sidewalk, Sunday mornin'
On the street pavement, on a peaceful Sunday morning

Lies a body oozin' life
There lies a lifeless body, slowly releasing its vitality

Someone's sneakin' 'round the corner
Someone is stealthily moving around the corner

Is that someone Mack the Knife?
Could that person be Mack the Knife?

From a tugboat, by the river
From a small boat, near the riverbank

A cement bag droppin' down
A bag of cement falling down

The cement, that's just for the weight, dear
The cement is simply for adding weight, my dear

I'll bet you Macky's back in town
I'm willing to wager that Macky has returned to town

Mr. Miller, disappeared, dear
Mr. Miller has vanished, my dear

After drawin' out all of his cash
After withdrawing all his money

Went tap city, and Mac Heath spends like a sailor
Went broke quickly, and Mac Heath spends lavishly like a sailor

Did our boy do, somethin' rash?
Did our boy commit some impulsive action?

Sukey Tawdry, Jenny Diver
Sukey Tawdry, Jenny Diver

Polly Peacham, Miss Lucy Brown
Polly Peacham, Miss Lucy Brown

Oh, the line forms on the right, dear
Oh, the queue is forming on the right, my dear

Now that Macky's back in town
Now that Macky has returned to town

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Kurt Weill, Bertolt Brecht, Marc Blitzstein

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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