His breakthrough in music came with the album "Mit Pfefferminz bin ich dein Prinz" ("With peppermint, I'm your prince") in 1978.
Müller-Westernhagen's music is shaped through his concise voice and shouting passages. His texts are very direct and provoking, e.g. "Dicke" ("Fat people"), but also social critical texts like "Freiheit" (freedom) are included in his emotional repertoire.
Mackie Messer
Marius Müller-Westernhagen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Und die trägt er im Gesicht.
Und Mackie, der hat ein Messer,
Doch das Messer sieht man nicht.
Ach, es sind des Haifischs Flossen.
Rot, wenn dieser Blut vergießt.
Mackie Messer trägt nen Handschuh,
An nem schönen blauen Sonntag
Liegt ein toter Mann am Strand.
Und ein Mensch geht um die Ecke
Den man Mackie Messer nennt.
Und Schmul Meier bleibt verschwunden.
Und so mancher reiche Mann.
Und sein Geld hat Mackie Messer,
Dem man nichts beweisen kann.
Denn die einen sind im Dunkeln
Und die andern sind im Licht.
Und man siehet die im Lichte,
Die im Dunkeln sieht man nicht.
Jenny Towler ward gefunden.
Mit nem Messer in der Brust.
Und am Kai geht Mackie Messer,
Der von allem nichts gewusst.
Und die minderjährige Witwe,
Deren Namen jeder weiss.
Wachte auf und war geschändet.
Mackie, welches war dein Preis ?
Denn die einen sind im Dunkeln
Und die andern sind im Licht.
Und man siehet die im Lichte,
Die im Dunkeln sieht man nicht.
Und der Haifisch, der hat Zähne.
Und die trägt er im Gesicht.
Und Mackie, der hat ein Messer,
Doch das Messer sieht man nicht.
Ach, es sind des Haifischs Flossen.
Rot, wenn dieser Blut vergießt.
Mackie Messer trägt nen Handschuh.
Drauf man keine Untat sieht.
The song "Mackie Messer," translated to "Mack the Knife," tells the story of a notorious criminal named Mackie Messer. The lyrics describe how he uses his skillful masking of evil deeds to elude the law and society's moral standards. The song portrays him as a shark, his teeth representing his hunger for blood and violence, yet cleverly hiding his actions from the public eye. The chorus emphasizes the idea that there are two types of people in society: those in the light, who are seen and judged, and those in the darkness, whose actions go unnoticed and unexplained.
The song's verses describe various crimes committed by Mackie, such as the murder of a man on the beach and the abduction and assault of a young woman. Mackie's cunning is highlighted through his use of a glove to cover any evidence of his crimes, and his ability to bribe his way out of legal responsibility. The lyrics suggest that even those who know what he is doing are unwilling or unable to stop him, creating a sense of societal corruption.
The song's commentary on societal injustice and the idea of those in power getting away with wrongdoing continues to resonate throughout the years. Although it was written in 1928 by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill for the opera "Die Dreigroschenoper," it has been covered by countless artists and translated into various languages, gaining popularity beyond its original intended audience.
Line by Line Meaning
Und der Haifisch, der hat Zähne.
The powerful people in society have strong weapons at their disposal.
Und die trägt er im Gesicht.
They're not afraid to show off their power and strength to intimidate others.
Und Mackie, der hat ein Messer,
Mackie's weapon may not be as obvious, but he too has the ability to do harm.
Doch das Messer sieht man nicht.
Unlike the powerful elite, Mackie keeps his weapon hidden and discreet.
Ach, es sind des Haifischs Flossen.
When the powerful people shed blood, they're not shy about it and are quick to take action.
Rot, wenn dieser Blut vergießt.
Their actions lead to violence and death.
Mackie Messer trägt nen Handschuh,
Mackie is smart enough to conceal his criminal doings by wearing gloves.
Drauf man keine Untat sieht.
This way, there is no hard evidence tying him to any crime.
An nem schönen blauen Sonntag
On a seemingly peaceful day,
Liegt ein toter Mann am Strand.
A dead body turns up on the beach.
Und ein Mensch geht um die Ecke
And someone is seen nearby,
Den man Mackie Messer nennt.
Who is known as Mackie Messer - a notorious criminal figure.
Und Schmul Meier bleibt verschwunden.
A man named Schmul Meier goes missing.
Und so mancher reiche Mann.
Several wealthy people have also vanished without a trace.
Und sein Geld hat Mackie Messer,
Mackie is suspected of being behind these missing persons cases and has taken their money.
Dem man nichts beweisen kann.
However, there is no concrete evidence to link him to the crimes.
Denn die einen sind im Dunkeln
There are those who operate in secrecy and darkness,
Und die andern sind im Licht.
And those who operate in plain sight.
Und man siehet die im Lichte,
People are often quick to judge those who are visible in society.
Die im Dunkeln sieht man nicht.
However, the ones who operate in the shadows are often more dangerous and harder to catch.
Jenny Towler ward gefunden.
A woman named Jenny Towler was found dead.
Mit nem Messer in der Brust.
She had been fatally stabbed.
Und am Kai geht Mackie Messer,
Mackie is seen in the area at the same time as the murder.
Der von allem nichts gewusst.
Despite this, he maintains that he knows nothing of the crime.
Und die minderjährige Witwe,
A young widow,
Deren Namen jeder weiss.
Known to everyone in town,
Wachte auf und war geschändet.
Is found to have been sexually assaulted in her sleep.
Mackie, welches war dein Preis ?
It is implied that Mackie was likely responsible for this heinous act and the young woman questions what he gained from it.
Contributed by Jacob M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.