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Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht (1898 - 1956 / Augsburg / Germany)
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A poet first and foremost, Bertolt Brecht's genius was for language. However, because this language is built upon a certain bold and direct simplicity .. more >>
30 poems of Bertolt Brecht
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Mack the Knife

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  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 side-walk Sunday morning
Lies a body oozing life;
Someone's sneaking 'round the corner.
Is that 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 you 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?

Sukey Tawdry, Jenny Diver,
Polly Peachum, Lucy Brown
Oh, the line forms on the right, dear
Now that Mackie's back in town.

Bertolt Brecht


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  Comments about this poem (Mack the Knife by Bertolt Brecht )
Click here to write your comments about this poem (Mack the Knife by Bertolt Brecht )
 
  Rev. Dr. A. Jacob Hassler  (1/11/2006 12:16:00 PM)

i'll be damned, Herr Brecht did write this after all along with composer Kurt Weill. a great tune most classically recorded by Bobby Darin.

Jake
 
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11/8/2009 8:14:43 AM. #.1# You Are Here: Mack the Knife by Bertolt Brecht

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