About The Song
Bobby Darin’s rendition of “Mack the Knife” was recorded in 1958 and released in 1959, it became the No. 1 song on the US Billboard Hot 100, making it one of the most popular songs of its time. Darin’s live performance of the song in 1970 on “The Andy Williams Show” is widely regarded as one of the best filmed versions. The lyrics describe the cunning and dangerous character, Macheath, also known as Mack the Knife. Darin’s rendition reached No. 1 in 1959, solidifying its place in music history.
The song originates from the German play “The Threepenny Opera,” written by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht in 1928. It portrays the character Mackie Messer, a notorious criminal in 19th-century London who charms ladies and evades capture by authorities.