Isham was born in New York City. He studied classical music at an early age and played trumpet, piano and violin. The Isham family later moved to San Francisco, where Mark found work in several of the local orchestras. He also became actively involved in the Bay Area rock and roll scene of the 1960s, performing live with several of the local groups.
One of his early recordings "Group 87" was released as a demo LP to college radio stations. Few commercially available pressings of this first release are available > though several custom CD burns (CBS/Sony denies existence, but providing the label & issue number through their custom burn service known as [SONY MUSIC SPECIAL PRODUCTS] can be had)!> I believe this is "THE DEFINITIVE ISHAM" against all others will be judged! One other Group 87 album followed titled "A Career in Dada Processing", a reflection attesting to the learning curve associated with the emerging CD Format. It was released with very limited availability. Both albums in the "Group 87" moniker are a bit mechanical, utilizing heavy sampling, forceful sequencing, strong percussion and a progressive edginess as compared to the later Isham releases. Mark Isham next released his self-titled "Vapor Drawings", softening the stylings of the group, but with a emphasis on his trumpeting skills, that as they matured developed into the sound that would be identified as his own unique sound. He has a MYSPACE page currently, where all available recordings can be ordered.
His albums Castalia (1988) and Tibet (1989) were both Grammy-nominated. He won in 1990 with his album Mark Isham.
In 1992 he published his first orchestral work Five Stories for Trumpet and Orchestra. The same year he earned an Academy Award nomination for the soundtrack of the film A River Runs Through It. During the following years he became a prolific film score composer. Some of his film scores include: Save the Last Dance, Men of Honor, October Sky, Point Break, and the critically acclaimed Crash which won well over 30 awards worldwide, including the Oscar for Best Achievement in Editing, Best Motion Picture of the Year and Best Writing/Original Screenplay, and many soundtrack awards.
In 1995 he released an album titled Blue Sun. This was his first album to follow a mainstream contemporary jazz format.
In 1999 he formed a group to interpret the music of Miles Davis's late 1960s through mid-1970s electric jazz fusion and released an album, Miles Remembered: The Silent Way Project, which was recorded live.
Moritat
Mark Isham Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can read his open face
And Macheath, he's got a knife, and
In such an obvious place
On a beautiful blue Sunday,
See a corpse stretched in the Strand
See a man dodge 'round the corner...
Mr. Meier reported missing
Like so many wealthy men:
Mack the knife acquired his cashbox
God alone knows how or when
Jenny Towler, she turned up lately
With a knife stuck through her breast
While Macheath, he walks the embankment,
Nonchalantly unimpressed
And the ghastly fire in Soho,
Seven children at a go--
In the crowd stands Mac the knife, but
He isn't asked, he doesn't know
And the child bride in her nightgown,
Whose assailants still at large
Violated in her slumbers
Mackie how much did you charge?
Yes, the child bride in her nightgown
Whose assailants still at large
Violated in her slumbers
Mackie how much did you charge?
Mackie how much did you charge?
How much did you charge?
How much did you charge?
How much did you charge?
How much did you charge?
The lyrics to Mark Isham's "Moritat" are a dark and slightly cryptic commentary on the character of Mackie Messer, also known as Mack the Knife. The song describes a series of crimes and atrocities that the enigmatic Mackie Messer seems to be involved in, from acquiring the cash of wealthy men to stabbing a woman named Jenny Towler. The lyrics describe a sense of disbelief and horror at the crimes, yet there is also an underlying feeling that these events are somehow expected, a part of the world that Mackie and his "friends" inhabit.
The first two stanzas of the song establish the shark-like imagery of Mackie Messer, his open-face and obvious knife. The third stanza describes a corpse on the street and suggests that Mackie's friends will understand what has happened. The fourth and fifth stanzas depict the acquisition of wealth by Mackie and the murder of Jenny Towler. The sixth and seventh stanzas describe an ominous fire and the violation of a young bride, both of which Mackie may or may not have been involved in. The final stanza is a refrain asking how much Mackie charged for his services.
Overall, the lyrics suggest a world of crime and violence revolving around the elusive Mackie Messer. There is a sense of unease and danger, yet also a feeling that Mackie and his friends are part of a larger social hierarchy. The song is a commentary on the darker aspects of human nature, and how easily people can become consumed by greed and violence.
Line by Line Meaning
See the shark with teeth like razors
Observe the dangerous and cunning individual who can do serious damage.
You can read his open face
His facial expressions make his intentions crystal clear.
And Macheath, he's got a knife, and
The notorious Macheath wields a weapon that he brazenly displays.
In such an obvious place
The location of Macheath's knife isn't hidden or secretive.
On a beautiful blue Sunday,
Despite the lovely weather, something terrible still managed to occur.
See a corpse stretched in the Strand
View a dead body lying in plain sight for all to see.
See a man dodge 'round the corner...
Catch a glimpse of someone swiftly turning the corner in an evasive maneuver.
Mackie's friends will understand.
Macheath's associates will comprehend the reasoning behind his behavior.
Mr. Meier reported missing
A wealthy man has been reported as disappeared.
Like so many wealthy men:
This circumstance isn't an isolated event among affluent individuals.
Mack the knife acquired his cashbox
Macheath managed to take possession of the missing man's money.
God alone knows how or when
The means or timing of Macheath's acquisition of the funds remain unknown to everyone, besides a higher power.
Jenny Towler, she turned up lately
The recently discovered Jenny Towler appeared after previously disappearing.
With a knife stuck through her breast
Jenny Towler was discovered with a knife punctured through her chest.
While Macheath, he walks the embankment,
Macheath casually strolls along the riverbank, seemingly unfazed by Jenny's situation.
Nonchalantly unimpressed
Macheath doesn't react emotionally to the distressing sight before him.
And the ghastly fire in Soho,
Furthermore, a gruesome blaze broke out in the district of Soho.
Seven children at a go--
Tragically, seven children lost their lives as a result.
In the crowd stands Mac the knife, but
Macheath is present amidst the throngs of people, but doesn't trigger any suspicion.
He isn't asked, he doesn't know
Nobody inquires about his potential involvement or knowledge surrounding the incident.
And the child bride in her nightgown,
In addition, a young newlywed woman was assaulted while wearing her nightwear.
Whose assailants still at large
The culprits responsible for the heinous crime have yet to be captured.
Violated in her slumbers
The bride was violated while she was asleep and vulnerable.
Mackie how much did you charge?
Macheath is questioned regarding his possible involvement or knowledge of the crime.
Yes, the child bride in her nightgown
To reiterate, the young bride was in a compromised state when she was assaulted.
Mackie how much did you charge?
The line is repeated to emphasize the questioning of Macheath's involvement with the crime.
How much did you charge?
The repetition continues, as the question remains unanswered.
How much did you charge?
The unanswered question remains pertinent to the issue at hand.
How much did you charge?
The repetition further emphasizes the inquiry that has gone without a response from Macheath.
How much did you charge?
The final repetition leaves the question unanswered and unresolved.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BERTOLT BRECHT, EUGEN BERTHOLD BRECHT, KURT WEILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind