Mack the Knife, A Las Vegas Cover Song
Versions of the song have been recorded by big names, crooned and jazzed up and swung. It's been a hit on the Las Vegas Strip for decades, between Top 40 hits, and a major scat framework. Take a look around - you might be surprised at some of the folks who've recorded a cover of Mack the Knife. Even if you aren't, you can enjoy this fabulous song in some of its many interpretations. Let me know if I've missed your favorite version, so that I can add it!
Start with the Original Hit: Louis Armstrong's Mack the Knife
Mack The Knife
Amazon Price: $0.99 (as of 11/29/2009)
Louis Armstrong introduced Americans to Mack and blew the song so hard that it swung right into the great American songbook. Most folks don't know that it came from The Threepenny Opera and began in German. Satchmo's version is so good, most people don't care.
Mack the Knife Music Videos
Watch and listen to people covering Mack
The Kurt Weill Lyrics for Mack the Knife
Without the scat and acknowledgements added to most versions
As you can see from the lyrics below, Mac the Knife is short for Macheath, which means that the dozens of versions titled Mack the Knife are misspelled. That doesn't keep them from being some of the best swing tunes out there, but it's a trivia tidbit I couldn't resist adding.
Oh the shark has pretty teeth, dear
And he shows them pearly white
Just a jackknife has Macheath, dear
And he keeps it out of sight
When the shark bites with his teeth, dear
Scarlet billows start to spread
Fancy gloves, though, wears Macheath, dear
So there's not a trace of red
On the side walk Sunday mornin'
Lies a body oozing life
Someone sneakin' round the corner
Is that someone Mack the Knife?
A cement bag's droppin' down
The cement's just for the weight, dear
Betcha Mackie's back in town
Louie Miller disappeared, dear
After drawing out his cash
And Macheath spends like a sailor
Did our boy do something rash?
Suky Tawdry, Jenny Diver
Polly Peachum, Lucy Brown
Oh the line forms on the right, dears
Now that Mackie's back in town
Oh the shark has pretty teeth, dear
And he shows them pearly white
Just a jackknife has Macheath, dear
And he keeps it out of sight
Just a jackknife has Macheath, dear
And he keeps it out of sight
Nine Full Covers of Mack the Knife
Swingin' and Jazz, Back in Town
Get Sheet Music and Guitar Tabs for Mack the Knife
The chords you'll need to play Mack the Knife on the guitar are as follows:
I'm only including the first verse because Mack's got now chorus, so you'll only need to know where the chords go for one verse to play the whole song (barring your own creativity and improvisation).
Sample Great Cover Versions of Mack the Knife
Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Rosemary Clooney, Wayne Newton, and More
More Mack the Knife Cover Versions
Mack The Knife from The Threepenny Opera
Amazon Price: $0.99 (as of 11/29/2009)
Mack The Knife (LP Version)
Amazon Price: $0.99 (as of 11/29/2009)
Mack The Knife (Non LP B-Side)
Amazon Price: $0.99 (as of 11/29/2009)
Mack The Knife (Live Version)
Amazon Price: $0.99 (as of 11/29/2009)
Mack The Knife
Amazon Price: $0.99 (as of 11/29/2009)
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Which Is Your Favorite Cover Version?
Did Bobby Darin or Ella Fitzgerald make Mack? Sinatra or Louis Armstrong? Let me know!
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- Gary Crosby Gary Crosby Nov 19, 2009 @ 12:13 pm
- The silly lyrics used by Darin et al don't touch the Manheim and Willett translation. They should be junked.
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- 2FriendsTreasures 2FriendsTreasures May 2, 2009 @ 4:21 pm
- Another informative lens - 5 stars - Bobby Darin is the man - no one cooler!
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- CharoLaRock CharoLaRock Feb 2, 2009 @ 4:29 am
- What a classic song, if you're a fan I definitely recommend hearing it as part of the Threepenny Opera, it holds a whole new significance. I think the new Amazon Digital module means you can listen to excerpts of those tracks, which would complete this brilliant lens.
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- Not-Pop Not-Pop Oct 28, 2008 @ 7:48 am
- I love it , too (obviously). I'm glad to see so many others still interested in this fantastic song.
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- ElizabethJeanAllen ElizabethJeanAllen Oct 27, 2008 @ 6:10 pm
- I loved this song...still do.
Great lens
Lizzy
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- happy-jack happy-jack Oct 14, 2008 @ 9:43 am
- Just a great tune that needs to be played.
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- spirituality spirituality Oct 14, 2008 @ 9:36 am
- I love Mack the Knife. Bummer that I can't listen to your various versions on this pc.
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- James20 James20 Oct 13, 2008 @ 5:57 pm
- I like this lens. Good work!
I like Bobby Darin's song.
James
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