"Mack the Knife" Lyrics in German

Known in English as "Mack the Knife," the original German version of the classic song is "Mackie Messeer." Made famous in "The Threepenny Opera" and sung by Hildegard Knef, this tune was a hit from its 1928 debut through the late 50s and it remains a favorite for many music lovers.

While you may be familiar with Louis Armstrong or Bobby Darin singing the English version, the original German lyrics tells the same story of a mysterious, knife-wielding man and it's interesting to see the translation. The hit song is great practice for students of the German language who want to put their vocabulary and pronunciation to the test.

About the Song "Mackie Messeer" ("Mack the Knife")

This classic Bertolt Brecht song (with music by Kurt Weill) is from "Die Dreigroschenoper" ("The Threepenny Opera"), which was first performed in Berlin in 1928. The now classic "Mack the Knife" is just one of several popular tunes from that play. 

The song was remade and recorded many times over the years, both in German and in English. A number of the recordings have hits in their own right over the years.

• Hildegard Knef's German version uses only six of the eleven verses in the original "Die Moritat von Mackie Messer."
• Marc Blitzstein wrote an English adaptation of "The Threepenny Opera" in 1954. Lotte Lenya appeared in that off-Broadway production (and in the original Berlin production).
• Louis Armstrong made his famous version of "Mack the Knife" in 1955.
• Bobby Darin's version was a hit in 1959. 

"Mackie Messeer" Lyrics

Text: Bertolt Brecht
Musik: Kurt Weill

Bertolt Brecht's (1898-1956) lyrics are an adaptation of Elisabeth Hauptmann's German translation of John Gay's "The Beggar's Opera."

The German lyrics are provided for educational use only. No infringement of copyright is implied or intended. The literal, prose translations of the original German lyrics by Hyde Flippo and are not from the English version written by Marc Blitzstein.

Who Was Hildegard Knef?

Although she had some international success, Hildegard Knef was better known in Germany than in the United States, where she began her singing career on Broadway. When she died in Berlin in 2002, she left behind the legacy of her long involvement with the arts—from movie actress to author, in both German and English.

Knef got her start in German films right after World War II, appearing in her first leading role in the 1946 film “Murderers Are Among Us” ("Die Mörder sind unter uns"). In 1951, she created a stir with a nude scene in the German film "Die Sünderin" (“The Story of a Sinner”).

From 1954 to 1956, she played the lead role of Ninotchka in the Broadway musical “Silk Stockings.” During that run, she sang Cole Porter tunes in her trademark smoky voice for a total of 675 performances.

She reluctantly used the name Hildegard Neff in the U.S., but her Hollywood career was brief. Knef's best-known film from that period was “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” with Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner. She returned to Germany in 1963 and began a new career as a chanteuse and songwriter. She continued to appear in German film and TV productions from time to time.

“Die Knef”—as she was affectionately called—was born in Ulm, Germany in 1925, although she spent most of her life in Berlin. Her long career included over 50 films, many music albums, Broadway, and several books, including her autobiography "The Gift Horse" ("Der geschenkte Gaul", 1970). She later wrote about her successful fight against breast cancer in "Das Urteil" (1975).

Popular Songs by Hildegard Knef

• "Aber schön war es doch" (But It Was Nice)
• "Eins und eins, das macht zwei" (One and One, That Makes Two) - featured in the film “Das grosse Liebesspiel”
• "Ich brauch' Tapetenwechsel" (I Need a Change of Scenery)
• "Ich hab' noch einen Koffer in Berlin" (I Still Have a Suitcase in Berlin) - also sung by Bully Buhlan and Marlene Dietrich
• "In dieser Stadt" (In This Old Town)
• "Mackie Messer " (Mack the Knife) 
• "Seeräuber-Jenny" (Pirate Jenny)  - also from "The Threepenny Opera"