Lyle Lovett - Moritat Lyrics

As performed by Lyle Lovett for the film Quiz Show:

See the shark with teeth like razors
You can read his open face
And Macheath, he's got a knife, and
In such an obvious place

On a beautiful blue Sunday,
See a corpse stretched in the Strand
See a man dodge 'round the corner...
Mackie's friends will understand.

Mr. Meier reported missing
Like so many wealthy men:
Mack the knife acquired his cashbox
God alone knows how or when

Jenny Towler, she turned up lately
With a knife stuck through her breast
While Macheath, he walks the embankment,
Nonchalantly unimpressed

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

And the child bride in her nightgown,
Whose assailants still at large
Violated in her slumbers
Mackie how much did you charge?

Yes, the child bride in her nightgown
Whose assailants still at large
Violated in her slumbers
Mackie how much did you charge?

Mackie how much did you charge?
How much did you charge?
How much did you charge?
How much did you charge?
How much did you charge?


THE BALLAD OF MACK THE KNIFE (COMPLETE VERSION)

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?