# Mack the Knife lyrics interpretation, please **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 31, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mack-the-knife-lyrics-interpretation-please/508383 "2009-08-31T18:23:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2009, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mack-the-knife-lyrics-interpretation-please/508383/61 "2009-09-02T17:59:03Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > OK, can anybody tell me why that’s so popular all of a sudden? I mean, I know it comes from a TNG episode, and I always thought the concept was a pretty original one, but lately, it seems to crop up in about every other thread I visit. Has this become a meme recently? I don’t know about other threads but here I was drawing a parallel between **Abby** ’s unique grasp of the English language resulting in everyone wondering what the hell she’s talking about and Picard wondering the same thing about the Tamarians. [Here’s a Darmok Dictionary mirror](http://jagslap.googlepages.com/darmok.html). To get this thread back on track: Macheath. With his knife. Macheath. With his knife. Around the corner. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Beadalin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Beadalin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beadalin)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2009, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mack-the-knife-lyrics-interpretation-please/508383/62 "2009-09-02T19:28:38Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > And she won a Grammy for that! For mucking it up and then ad-libbing! I’d never known about this before. How sweet! ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2009, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mack-the-knife-lyrics-interpretation-please/508383/63 "2009-09-02T20:38:49Z")
"one of the greatest displays of jazz vocal improvisation in concert. Including her amazing rendition of “Mack the Knife”, this recording showcases the virtuosity of Ella at the peak of her performing prowess. " :rolleyes: Link to the album [Ella in Berlin.](http://www.vervemusicgroup.com/artist/music/detail.aspx?pid=9971&aid=2685) ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2009, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mack-the-knife-lyrics-interpretation-please/508383/64 "2009-09-02T23:02:11Z")
And, to be 100% accurate, she won it twice: in 1961 only In 1961 the award was separated into \*Best Vocal Performance Single Record Or Track \*and _Best Vocal Performance Album, Female_. So what year was \*Ella in Berlin: Mack the Knife \*released? Why, 1961! ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2009, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mack-the-knife-lyrics-interpretation-please/508383/65 "2009-09-02T23:26:33Z")
I think I need to unsubscribe from this thread, just to make the earworm go away. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mack-the-knife-lyrics-interpretation-please/508383/66 "2009-09-03T02:16:25Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > I think I need to unsubscribe from this thread, just to make the earworm go away. …and he shows them, pearly white. Just a clasp knife, has McHeath Dear, but he keep it, out of sight. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mack-the-knife-lyrics-interpretation-please/508383/67 "2009-09-03T02:50:33Z")
Aaaaghhh! The voices! Make it stop! ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mack-the-knife-lyrics-interpretation-please/508383/68 "2009-09-03T03:04:12Z")
…and McHeath’s spending, like asailor… ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mack-the-knife-lyrics-interpretation-please/508383/69 "2009-09-03T03:06:14Z")
Apropos of absolutely nothing, “Mack the Knife” was (for some reason she never told me) one of my mother’s favorite songs. We had the DJ play it at my wedding reception just for her, and I think he said it was the first time he’d ever been requested to play it. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mack-the-knife-lyrics-interpretation-please/508383/70 "2009-09-03T03:10:27Z")
> [@LurkMeister](#): > > “Mack the Knife” was (for some reason she never told me) one of my mother’s favorite songs. We had the DJ play it at my wedding reception Outstanding! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mack-the-knife-lyrics-interpretation-please/508383/71 "2009-09-03T03:28:40Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Speaking of, I’m rather fond of Lyle Lovett’s cover/version of the song which is titled “Moritat” (from the closing credits of the movie Quiz Show). Same here! I fell in love with that version from the first time I saw the film. When I got the DVD and soundtrack CD of the film, I played them over and over for days. Hehehe.😃 ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mack-the-knife-lyrics-interpretation-please/508383/72 "2009-09-03T03:34:25Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > And I think it should be “ **d** ie trägt er…” But “moritat” is already the term im Deutsch. “Darmok” was the greatest TNG episode. ---
**Author:** ![Nicest\_of\_the\_Damned](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8baadc/32.png) [@Nicest\_of\_the\_Damned](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nicest_of_the_Damned)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mack-the-knife-lyrics-interpretation-please/508383/73 "2009-09-03T04:04:16Z")
I remember Sigourney Weaver doing some variation of it on Saturday Night Live many years ago but I can’t find any video of it. Unfortunately the version that gets stuck in my head is from those 1980s McDonald’s commercials. Best. Light bulb joke. Ever: How many Tamarians does it take to change a light bulb? Sylvania, when the lamp failed. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mack-the-knife-lyrics-interpretation-please/508383/74 "2009-09-03T13:06:48Z")
Does the use of “Dear” in the English lyrics come from the German using the familiar form? ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mack-the-knife-lyrics-interpretation-please/508383/75 "2009-09-03T13:38:56Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Does the use of “Dear” in the English lyrics come from the German using the familiar form? The original German is indefinite and lacks any direct address, using only ‘man’, German for ‘one’ when it’s used as a pronoun. I think the ‘dear’ is mainly there to get the whole thing to scan right; it’s also not present in all translations of the lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mack-the-knife-lyrics-interpretation-please/508383/76 "2009-09-03T13:46:24Z")
Thanks Half! ---
**Author:** ![Rattlehead02](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rattlehead02/32/3944_2.png) [@Rattlehead02](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rattlehead02)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mack-the-knife-lyrics-interpretation-please/508383/77 "2009-09-03T16:31:54Z")
When I was in high school my family had a boat on the Ohio river, in a cove type marina. As we were idling out of the cove into the main river (no wake in the cove) my parents would crank Mack the Knife. Not sure why, but we did it every time coming in and out of the harbor. We’d also do silly shark like hand gestures to the song. Even as a 16 year old metal head I could get into it. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mack-the-knife-lyrics-interpretation-please/508383/78 "2009-09-03T18:36:21Z")
GildedLily, I think Navy ships choose a song to broadcast all over the ship when they’re pulling in and out of port; at least my former husband said the aircraft carrier he was on did this. Maybe your parents were imitating that. ---
**Author:** ![Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abby_Emma_Sasha)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mack-the-knife-lyrics-interpretation-please/508383/79 "2009-09-09T13:20:02Z")
After having a few days to think about things, I understand that I was unclear. I should have spelled out my opinion for those who are inept. You people kept saying “standard, standard, what do you mean?” when you should have said "do you mean standards of _Mack The Knife?_. You knew very well that I meant that . but you wanted to hurt me. Well done. Hope you have a good time. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2009, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mack-the-knife-lyrics-interpretation-please/508383/80 "2009-09-09T14:40:57Z")
> [@Abby\_Emma\_Sasha](#): > > I should have spelled out my opinion for those who are inept. You people kept saying “standard, standard, what do you mean?” when you should have said "do you mean standards of _Mack The Knife?_. You knew very well that I meant that . but you wanted to hurt me. Well done. Hope you have a good time. This is a formal warning for violating mod instructions, **Abby\_Emma\_Sasha**. You were told not to post in this thread again, but I would have overlooked that if you had only addressed the misunderstandings from upthread. Reviving the thread to attack other posters _again_ is uncalled for. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mack-the-knife-lyrics-interpretation-please/508383.md?page=3)