Moritat Lyrics

Die Moritat von Mackie Messer

  Und der Haifisch, der hat Zähne
  und die trägt er im Gesicht
  und Macheath, 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 liest.

  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.

  Jenny Towler ward gefunden
  mit 'nem Messer in der Brust
  und am Kai geht Mackie Messer
  der von allem nichts gewußt.

  Und das große Feuer in Soho
  sieben Kinder und ein Greis -
  in der Menge Mackie Messer, den
  man nicht fragt und der nichts weiß.

  Und die minderjährige Witwe
  deren Namen jeder weiß
  wachte auf und war geschändet -
  Mackie, welches war dein Preis?
  Wachte auf und war geschändet -
  Mackie, welches war dein Preis?

The Ballad of Mack the knife (Trans. John Willett):

See the shark has teeth like razors
All can read his open face
And Macheath has got a knife, but
Not in such an obvious place

See the shark, How red his fins are
As he slashes at his prey
Mac the Knife wears white kid gloves which
Give the minimum away

By the Thames turbid waters,
Men abruptly tumble down
IIs it plague, or is it cholera?
Or a sign Macheath's in town?

On a beautyful blue Sunday,
See a corpse stretched on the Strand
See a man dodge around the corner...
Mackie's friend's will understand.

And Schul Meier who is missing
Like so many wealthy men:
Mack the knife aquired his cashbox
God alone knows how or when

Jenny Towler turned up lately
With a knife stuck in her breast
While Macheath walked the embankment,
Nonchalantly unimpressed

Where is Alfred Gleet the cabman?
Who can get that story clear?
All the world may know the answer,
but Macheath has no idea

And the ghastly fire in Soho,
Seven children at a go---
In the crowd stands Mac the knife, but
He's not asked and doesn't know

And the child bride in her nightie,
Whose assailant's still at large
Violated in her slumbers---
Mackie how much did you charge?

---

The ballad of Mack the Knife
(M.Blitzen/L.Armstrong/ B.Darin version):

Oh the shark has/ Pretty teeth dear
And he keeps them/ Pearly white
And a jackknife/ Has Macheath dear
and he keeps it/ out of sight

When the shark bites/ with it's teeth dear
scarlet billows/ start to spread
Fancy gloves though/ Wears Macheath dear
So there's not a trace/ of red

On the sidewalk/ Sunday morning
Lies a body/ Oozing life
Someone's sneeking/ Around the cornor
Is that someone/ Mack the knife?

There's a tugboat/ By the river
Cement bags/ drooping down
The cement's/ just for the weight dear
Now that Mackie's/ Back in town

Louie Miller/ Dissappeared dear
After drawing/ Out his cash
And Macheath spends/ Like a sailor
Has our boy done/ Something rash?

Suky Taudry, Jenny Diver, Lotty Lenya, and Lucy Brown
The line forms/ on the right dear
Now that Mackie's/ Back in town

The Ballad of Mac Tonight (McDonald's):

When the clock strikes/ Half past six babe
It's time to head for/ Golden light
It's a good time/ For the great taste
(Dinner) at Mcdonald's/ It's Mac Tonight!

Come on make it right tonight.
 
 

---

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