Mack The Knife
Frank Sinatra & Dean Martin Lyrics

Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear
The dangerous people in our society can present themselves attractively

And he shows 'em, pearly white
These people can put on a charming facade to cover up their true nature

Just a jack knife has Macheath dear
A person's deadly weapon may appear ordinary or harmless

And he keeps it way out of sight
These dangerous people are secretive and try to hide their true intentions

When that shark bites with his teeth, dear
When these dangerous people act, they often cause widespread harm

Scarlet billows they begin to spread
Their actions can have a ripple effect on the rest of society

Fancy white gloves though has Macheath dear
These dangerous people can afford to present themselves in a high-class, sophisticated manner

So there's never, never one trace of red
They take pains to cover up their violent actions and avoid leaving evidence

On the sidewalk, one Sunday morning
One can stumble upon the aftermath of their destructive actions

Lies a body, oozin' life
The result of their actions is often fatal or irreversible

Someone's sneaking 'round the corner
These dangerous people often operate in secrecy and try to avoid notice

Could that someone perhaps per chance be Mack the Knife?
The identity of the dangerous person is often unknown, but their actions are felt throughout society

From a tugboat, on the river going slow
Even the most mundane or ordinary-seeming things can be used for sinister purposes

A cement bag it is dropping on down
The dangerous person can use anything, no matter how innocuous, as a tool for harm

Yeah the cement is just for the weight dear
These dangerous people are resourceful and can come up with clever ways to hide their actions

You can make a large bet Mackie's back in town
Even if the dangerous person appears to go away, they will always come back to cause more harm

My man Louis Miller, he split the scene babe
Even the people who know these dangerous people well cannot predict their movements or actions

After drawing out all the bread from his stash
These people are often motivated by greed and will do whatever it takes to get what they want

Now Macheath spends like a pimp babe
These dangerous people can enjoy the fruits of their harmful actions and live extravagantly

Do you suppose that our boy, he's did something rash
The danger of these people is that they can act impulsively and unpredictably

Ah, old Satchmo, Louis Armstrong, Bobby Darrin
The storyteller acknowledges the previous singers of this song and their skill in conveying the danger and intrigue of these people

They did this song nice, lady Ella too
The storyteller expresses admiration for these singers' ability to convey the gravity of the situation

They all sang it, with so much feeling
Their performances added to the suspense and intrigue of the subject matter

That old blue eyes, he ain't gonna add nothing new
The storyteller acknowledges that he is not the first to sing about these dangerous people, and he won't be the last

But with Quincy's big band, right behind me
The storyteller has assembled a talented group of musicians to back him up and add to the drama of the performance

Swinging hard, Jack, I now I can't lose
The performer is confident in his ability to convey the danger and intrigue of the subject matter with the help of his talented band

When I tell you, all about Mack the knife babe
The performer is about to share more information about these dangerous people, to further convey the gravity of the situation

It's an offer, you can never refuse
The danger of these people is that they can force others to do what they want, often with lethal consequences

We got George Benson, we got Newman & Foster
The performer highlights the talented musicians who are backing him up

We got the Brecker Brothers, and Hampton's bringing up the rear
The performers are a truly skilled group who are well-equipped to convey the danger and intrigue of these people

All these bad cats, and more, are in the band now
The performer is proud of the talented musicians who have come together to convey the gravity of the subject matter

They make the greatest sounds, you ever gonna hear
The talent of the performers is not in doubt; the listeners will be moved by the music they create

Hey Sookie Taudry, Jenny Diver, Polly Peachum, Old Miss Lulu Brown
The storyteller lists several other characters who have been impacted by these dangerous people

Oh the line forms, on the right dear
The storyteller further establishes that the fallout of these people's actions has lasting consequences on society

Now that Macheath, I mean that man Macheath
The storyteller is emphasizing the importance of the subject matter and the impact it has on society

Yeah he's bad, mercy mercy
The storyteller reiterates that these people are dangerous and should be treated with caution

Yeah he's badder than old Leroy Brown
The storyteller compares the danger of these people to another infamous criminal, emphasizing their notoriety

You better lock your door, and call the law
The storyteller is advising listeners to stay safe and report any suspicious behavior to the authorities

Because Macheath's, that bum,He's back in town
The storyteller is warning listeners that these dangerous people will always return, and society must be vigilant to combat their harmful actions