# Your favorite version of "Mack the Knife"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 7, 2010, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-version-of-mack-the-knife/531639 "2010-03-07T18:35:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-version-of-mack-the-knife/531639/21 "2010-03-08T11:53:48Z")
My favourite is by The Young Gods, off _[“… Play Kurt Weill”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Young_Gods_Play_Kurt_Weill)_ ---
**Author:** ![Mithril](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mithril/32/3517_2.png) [@Mithril](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mithril)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-version-of-mack-the-knife/531639/22 "2010-03-08T12:31:45Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Yeah, the rolled Rs. I took quite a bit of German in high school and college (I wish I could remember it!), and we never rolled our Rs. Not saying it doesn’t happen in Germany (and I didn’t hear it when I was there), but it does take some getting used to in the song. I took German in high school and college as well, and we never trilled. There was a nose for R, but was a back-of-the-tongue thing that I never mastered. In addition to the trilled R, there is a…tremor? I don’t know how to describe it. It just really, really bugs me. Hence my only watching half of the Threepenny Opera DVD when it took me months to get hold of it in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-version-of-mack-the-knife/531639/23 "2010-03-08T12:37:36Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Me too, for the same reason. And the dissonance is what makes it work, IMHO. Actually, now that I think about it, there really isn’t any dissonance here. Sinatra’s version is a cheerful song about a thug sung by a cheerful thug. It’s probably the most honest song Old Blue-Eyes ever did. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-version-of-mack-the-knife/531639/24 "2010-03-08T12:59:26Z")
[This version.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpSGtT_s7XA) ---
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-version-of-mack-the-knife/531639/25 "2010-03-08T15:41:33Z")
My favorite is Lyle Lovett’s version of “Moritat” as heard in the _ **Quiz Show** _ soundtrack. I also like Ute Lemper’s version in German. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-version-of-mack-the-knife/531639/26 "2010-03-08T19:03:44Z")
> [@koeeoaddi](#): > > I liked Steve Martin’s, with the scissor-finger action. If one looks closely, he’s making his hand into a 'finger-shadow-shark" shape. and it’s darn good. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-version-of-mack-the-knife/531639/27 "2010-03-09T06:36:36Z")
> [@JpnDude](#): > > My favorite is Lyle Lovett’s version of “Moritat” as heard in the _ **Quiz Show** _ soundtrack. Agreed with this. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-version-of-mack-the-knife/531639/28 "2010-03-09T15:11:56Z")
> [@The New and Improved Superman](#): > > Ella Fitzgerald won a grammy for a recording of “Mack the Knife.” The record was recorded live before an audience in Germany, and what makes it remarkable is that Ella blanked out on the words right in the middle of the song, but ad-libbed new lyrics without missing a cue. > > “Whaaaaaaaaat’s the next verse to this song? > What’s the next verse to…Mack the Knife?” > > Hilarious! This version irritates me for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![Rrose\_Selavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bcef8e/32.png) [@Rrose\_Selavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rrose_Selavy)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-version-of-mack-the-knife/531639/29 "2010-03-09T23:05:04Z")
> [@The New and Improved Superman](#): > > Ella Fitzgerald won a grammy for a recording of “Mack the Knife.” The record was recorded live before an audience in Germany, and what makes it remarkable is that Ella blanked out on the words right in the middle of the song, but ad-libbed new lyrics without missing a cue. > > “Whaaaaaaaaat’s the next verse to this song? > What’s the next verse to…Mack the Knife?” > > Hilarious! Found it. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YI5fU6ZbyaA/hqdefault.jpg "Ella Fitzgerald - Mack the Knife") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI5fU6ZbyaA) ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2010, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-version-of-mack-the-knife/531639/30 "2010-03-09T23:30:58Z")
When the clock strikes half past six, babe Time to head for gooolden lights It’s a good time for the great taste of McDonalds - it’s Mac Tonight! ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2010, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-version-of-mack-the-knife/531639/31 "2010-03-10T00:46:21Z")
[The Spanish salsa version, of course!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRFF73HDFCw) ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2010, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-version-of-mack-the-knife/531639/32 "2010-03-11T08:29:10Z")
As someone mentioned, I can never think of any other version than Steve Martin’s! I can’t find it on YouTube, but it was not only the little scissor-shark hand thing but the way he basically just mumbled all the lyrics but then shouted out, “PEARLY WHITE!!” each time. Had to see it! ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2010, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-version-of-mack-the-knife/531639/33 "2010-03-11T13:35:54Z")
I like the “instrumental” version from the film with the icky monkey organ grinder warbling away. Or sung by Brecht. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_QXJ3OXWaOY](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QXJ3OXWaOY) The more modern versions just don’t say serial murder well enough. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-version-of-mack-the-knife/531639/34 "2010-03-18T18:37:31Z")
This is off topic but I also wanted to post my favorite version of [Surabaya Johnny](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K9nt5IR3Fo&playnext_from=TL&videos=241nqnpCXPw&playnext=1). It’s by a German band called Elements of Crime. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-version-of-mack-the-knife/531639/35 "2010-03-19T04:03:35Z")
I was introduced to the song watching old shows on PBS of old Ernie Kovacs shows. He used an ancient version sung by a German comedian as the background for some of the first [blackout](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyckP1Sjjoc) sketches. My favorite in English was from the 1976 Raul Julia [Threepenny](http://www.dinosaurgardens.com/archives/180). Unfortunately, BMG found the old MP3s (it was released on vinyl but not on CD) and makd them take them down, but the lyrics were deliberately rough–“And the child bride/ In her nightie / Whose assailant’s / Still at large / Violated in her slumber / Mackie, how much did you charge?” ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-version-of-mack-the-knife/531639/36 "2010-03-19T04:10:47Z")
> [@Mehitabel](#): > > I was introduced to the song watching old shows on PBS of old Ernie Kovacs shows. He used an ancient version sung by a German comedian as the background for some of the first [blackout](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyckP1Sjjoc) sketches. > > My favorite in English was from the 1976 Raul Julia [Threepenny](http://www.dinosaurgardens.com/archives/180). Unfortunately, BMG found the old MP3s (it was released on vinyl but not on CD) and makd them take them down, but the lyrics were deliberately rough–“And the child bride/ In her nightie / Whose assailant’s / Still at large / Violated in her slumber / Mackie, how much did you charge?” Ooh, that’s the same translation that Nick Cave uses! I was actually curious about that, where the translations originate. Like, Nick Cave sings: > [@](#): > > See the shark with teeth like razors > And he wears them in his face > And Macheath has got a knife > But not in such an obvious place whereas a lot of other people have a slightly different first verse, like about how Macheath has a knife hidden out of sight. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-version-of-mack-the-knife/531639/37 "2010-03-19T04:16:51Z")
What a great song. I heard [Jimmy Dale Gilmore’s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICRbinSuwcU) version the other day, it’s the closing song to the French movie _A Prophet_. It’s really worth a listen. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2010, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-version-of-mack-the-knife/531639/38 "2010-03-19T04:31:53Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > … I was actually curious about that, where the translations originate. … > [@](#): > > **Original German text** > > The song was inserted in the play shortly before its premiere in 1928, because Harald Paulsen, who created the role of Macheath, wished a more effectful introduction of his character. The original German text is: Und der Haifisch, der hat Zähne, > Und die trägt er im Gesicht. > Und Macheath, der hat ein Messer, > Doch das Messer sieht man nicht.literal English translationAnd the shark, he has teeth, > And he wears them in his face. > And Macheath, he has a knife, > But the knife cannot be seen. **1954 Blitzstein translation** > > In the best known English translation, from the Marc Blitzstein 1954 version of The Threepenny Opera, which introduced the song to English-speaking audiences, the words are:Oh the shark has pretty teeth dear, > And he shows them pearly white > Just a jack-knife has Macheath dear > And he keeps it out of sight.This is the version popularized by Louis Armstrong (1956) and Bobby Darin (1959) (Darin’s lyrics differ slightly), and most subsequent swing versions. Weill’s widow, Lotte Lenya, the star of both the original 1928 German production and the 1954 Blitzstein Broadway version, was present in the studio during Armstrong’s recording. He spontaneously added her name to the lyrics, which already named several of Macheath’s female victims. … > > **1976 Manheim-Willett translation** > > In 1976 the version translated by Ralph Manheim and John Willett opened on Broadway, later made into a movie version starring Raúl Juliá as “Mackie”. Here is an excerpt: See the shark with teeth like razors > All can read his open face > And Macheath has got a knife, but > Not in such an obvious placeThis is the version later performed by Sting and Nick Cave. It is also the version performed by Lyle Lovett on the soundtrack of the film Quiz Show (1994)—the same movie features Darin’s rendition over the opening credits. > > **1994 translation** > > A much darker translation by Robert David MacDonald and Jeremy Sams into English was used for the 1994 Donmar Warehouse theatrical production in London. The new translation attempted to recapture the original tone of the song:Though the shark’s teeth may be lethal > Still you see them white and red > But you won’t see Mackie’s flick knife > Cause he slashed you and you’re dead[RIGHT][CITE](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mack_the_Knife)[/RIGHT] CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-version-of-mack-the-knife/531639/39 "2010-03-20T12:52:05Z")
I like Louis Armstrong’s version also. I love his gravely voice just belting it out. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-version-of-mack-the-knife/531639/40 "2010-03-20T17:02:13Z")
> [@Motorgirl](#): > > When the clock strikes half past six, babe > Time to head for gooolden lights > It’s a good time for the great taste > of McDonalds - it’s Mac Tonight! I had the sunglasses! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-version-of-mack-the-knife/531639.md?page=1)