Mack the Knife: Opera that Became a Swingin' Standard
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Mack the Knife, A Las Vegas Cover Song
Die Moritat von Mackie Messer (or The Deadly Deeds of Mackie Messer) came onto the scene in 1928 in the Threepenny Opera and then became the theme song for Macheath in The Beggar's Opera. The dashing and deadly fellow captured the imagination of plenty over the years. This article picks up at the point where Louis Armstrong recorded the smash hit swing version of the song in 1955 and follows the new story of Mack the Knife through the ensuing fifty-odd years, both in the original operatic style and as the fantastic swing standard that Bobby Darin made it.
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--that's what a standard is, after all. Let me know if I've missed your favorite version, so that I can add it!
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--that's what a standard is, after all. Let me know if I've missed your favorite version, so that I can add it!
Start with the 1955 Hit: Louis Armstrong
When Mack Moved from Scoundrel to Bad Boy
Mack The Knife
Amazon Price: $0.99 (as of 02/16/2012)
Louis Armstrong introduced Americans to Mack and blew the song so hard that it swung right into the great American songbook. An awful lot of people don't know it came from The Threepenny Opera and began in German. Satchmo's version is so good that most people don't care. Now it's a swing standard that's is still covered in both the original, operatic style and in hip, swingin' style.
Mack the Knife Music Videos
Watch and listen to people covering Mack
You can listen to the full track of some of the more obscure covers of Mack the Knife, like the ones from The Doors and The Psychedelic Furs, at The Not-Pop Jukebox, as well as eleven others. Naturally I've started with possibly the best-known swing version of Mack the Knife: Bobby Darin himself.
automatically generated by YouTube
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
Sample Great Cover Versions of Mack the Knife
Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Rosemary Clooney, Wayne Newton, and More
Enjoy Mr. Vegas and Ol' Blue Eyes crooning about how ol' Mackie's back in town. Groove to Ella Fitzgerald swingin' and scatting, Rosemary Clooney's mambo version of the song, and another two dozen versions of Mack the Knife, including ones true to the "Threepenny Opera" original. I couldn't find the Cab Calloway or Psychedelic Furs versions at Amazon, but you can have a listen to these and a few more lesser-known, full versions of Mac the Knife on my blog, including terrific oom-pah versions from The Doors and Sting, Michael Buble, and the unusual Enya version in the Disney movie "The Frog Prince". There are thirteen full songs to enjoy, there, including Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. And naturally, Bobby Darin's Mack the Knife is there, too.
More Mack the Knife Cover Versions
You know that Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra covered this standard, but how about The Psychadelic Furs? Brian Setzer? Michael Buble? Nick Cave? Kevin Spacey?
Get Sheet Music and Guitar Tabs for Mack the Knife
You can download free sheet music for Mack the Knife at Pianotte. You can find scores for plenty of other versions, as most big band and orchestras from the 50s and 60s recorded one, but those understandably come with a price tag.
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).
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).
More Music Videos for Moritat
From Opera to Modern Swing
Lyle Lovett, Sting (in German, no less), a wacky 60s version of Mackie Messer in Czech, Marvin Gaye, the wonderful Lionel Hampton, a wonderfully creepy version from The Platters, and Ute Lemper with her great Eartha Kitt style offer wildly different takes on Mack the Knife for your enjoyment. Don't miss Lotte Lenya, Kurt Weill's wife, singing the song in German, as well, or the inimitable Liberace playing the song in different styles.
curated content from YouTube
Read More on the History of this Swing Standard
Bobby Darin Didn't Invent Mack the Knife
For a complete explanation of where Mac the Knife came from (and why you ought not be too taken with the scoundrel), check The Straight Dope or the amazing Threepenny Opera site. Both fill out the details behind the operatic scoundrel that Louis Armstrong and Bobby Darin turned into Mack the Knife, a hip bad boy that makes the ladies swing.
How Do You Like Your Mack?
Are You a Stickler for Original Opera or Fan of the Swing?
Whether your a fan of Kurt Weill and opera in general or a devoted lover of swing, or even if you love them both, let me know which you prefer. You can tell me why you love Mack the Knife here, too, or why you don't. And if you do, please share whether you love the song with the Moritat title or the modern version. And of course you can let me know if you don't like either.
This poster is from the 1933 Broadway production of the Three Penny Opera. You can click it and get your very own over at AllPosters. For those of you familiar with the work, is the gent getting his nose tweaked our favorite scoundrel, Mack himself, and is that woman soon to be his victim? Perhaps the young miss should be a bit less forward with strange men!
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Get the Sheet Music and Play It Yourself
The Original Version and Swing or Two
Why just enjoy listening to others perform Mack the Knife when you can do it yourself? You can find sheet music for solo piano and ensemble swing versions, as well!
Show Your Love for Lounge Acts and Vegas Crooners
Which Is Your Favorite Cover Version?
Did Bobby Darin or Ella Fitzgerald make Mack? Sinatra or Louis Armstrong? Or is Sting's darker version closer to your heart? Let me know!
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Athelyna
Feb 11, 2012 @ 10:25 pm | delete
- Absolutely fascinating! I have to admit that when it takes up residence in my head, it's usually because I'm remembering McDonalds' "Mac Tonight" commercials with the Ray-Charles-like moon - but for the real song I think Armstrong's is the classic.
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ronberry
Jan 23, 2012 @ 6:35 pm | delete
- Gotta go with Bobby - although I haven't heard them all - Sting's version was interesting
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jadehorseshoe
Jan 4, 2012 @ 3:07 am | delete
- Bobby Darin; Frank Sinatra; Louis Armstrong. ... In that order. ... Great Lens!
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nyclittleitaly
Dec 24, 2011 @ 2:14 pm | delete
- Mack the Knife is a great song. One of Bobby Darrin's best.
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Tipi
Nov 14, 2011 @ 9:31 am | delete
- I didn't know that Mack the Knife is an opera. I love the song! This is a very nice music lens, and is blessed!
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Not-Pop
Nov 18, 2011 @ 5:59 pm | delete
- Thank you so much! It seems most people don't realize where the song started. It's certainly come a long way since then.
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grannysage
Nov 12, 2011 @ 3:51 am | delete
- Okay, you got me hooked. I'm not a big Mack the Knife fan but I had to listen to the Sting version. And then my curiosity got the better of me and I had to check out the Doors, which is pretty cool by the way. Since I knew nothing of the history of the song, I had to look it up on the link you provided....wondered why it was in German. So I would say you definitely caught my interest. Great job.
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Not-Pop
Nov 12, 2011 @ 8:44 am | delete
- Thanks! That's how I end up with these pages: I find a song I love and the discover it had a whole other life before I found it. :D
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OhMe
Nov 11, 2011 @ 5:59 pm | delete
- I have danced many a dance to Mack the Knife. One of my favorites
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boutiqueshops
Nov 11, 2011 @ 4:07 pm | delete
- How cool ~ I never knew anyone besides Bobby Darin even did a version of Mack The Knife! Very interesting ~ blessed!
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