Die Moritat von Mackie Messer [English translation]

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!

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 sidewalk Sunday morning

Lies a body oozing life;

Someone sneaking 'round the corner;

Is the someone Mack the Knife?

From a tugboat by the river,

A cement bag's dropping down;

The cement's just for the weight, dear;

Bet ya 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 jack-knife has Macheath, dear,

And he keeps it out of sight!

Just a jack-knife has Macheath, dear,

And he keeps it out of sight!

• Artist:Lotte Lenya
• Album:Dreigroschenoper