Mack the Knife or Mackie Messer

[Rajat]

Cutting short the origins and history, It is a Beautiful song and worth a mention today!

[youtube][/youtube]

Bobby Darin's Mack the Knife

Lyrics:

Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear
And it shows them pearly white
Just a jackknife has old MacHeath, babe
And he keeps it, ah, out of sight
Ya know when that shark bites with his teeth, babe
Scarlet billows start to spread
Fancy gloves, oh, wears old MacHeath, babe
So there's never, never a trace of red

Now on the sidewalk, huh, huh, whoo sunny morning, un huh
Lies a body just oozin' life, eek
And someone's sneakin' ‘round the corner
Could that someone be Mack the Knife?

There's a tugboat, huh, huh, down by the river don'tcha know
Where a cement bag's just a'drooppin' on down
Oh, that cement is just, it's there for the weight, dear
Five'll get ya ten old Macky's back in town
Now d'ja hear ‘bout Louie Miller? He disappeared, babe
After drawin' out all his hard-earned cash
And now MacHeath spends just like a sailor
Could it be our boy's done somethin' rash?

Now Jenny Diver, ho, ho, yeah, Sukey Tawdry
Ooh, Miss Lotte Lenya and old Lucy Brown
Oh, the line forms on the right, babe
Now that Macky's back in town

I said Jenny Diver, whoa, Sukey Tawdry
Look out to Miss Lotte Lenya and old Lucy Brown
Yes, that line forms on the right, babe
Now that Macky's back in town.....
Look out, old Macky's back!!

But why the change?

[Mack The Knife]

Rajat, you have impeccable tastes!

This is the 1955 version made popular by Satchmo and first sung by Bobby D in 1958.

I have an earlier version penned by Kurt Weill (Three Penny Opera - first recording). If you can find it on YouTube it's worth a listen.

Incidentally, there is also a Salsa version called Pedro Navajas.

"But why the change?"

I recently realised that my posts on here could be shared on Facebook, Twitter and what-have-you without my knowing about it. Wasn't happy about that and changed the User ID. Whilst doing so, I decided to cock a snook at certain people who have it in for me and want the authorities to believe I share MacHeath's characteristics.
Nil illegitimi carborundum is such a nice motto to have and whilst they can get me down, now and then, I still end up looking at the bright side of life.