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Mack The Knife

Chords

4.8125 votes

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Verse 1]
Oh, the Cshark has pretty Dmteeth dear
And he G7shows 'em, pearly Cwhite
Just a Amjack knife has MacDmheath dear
And he G7keeps it way out of Csight
[Verse 2]
When that Cshark bites with his Dmteeth, dear
Scarlet G7billows begin to sCpread
Fancy Amgloves though has DmMacheath dear
So there's G7never, never a trace of Cred
[Verse 3]
On the Csidewalk, one Sunday Dmmorning
Lies a G7body, oozin' Clife
Someone's Amsneaking 'round the Dmcorner
Could that G7someone be Mack the Cknife
[Verse 4]
From a Ctugboat, on the river Dmgoing slow
A ceG7ment bag is dropping on Cdown
You know Amthat cement is for the Dmweight dear
You can G7make a large bet Mackie'Cs back in town
[Verse 5]
Look at CLouis Miller, he dissaDmppeared, dear,
After G7drawing out his Ccash
Now MacAmheath spends like a Dmsailor
Do you G7suppose our boy, he's doCne something rash...

The story behind the song

Louis Armstrong, also known as "Satchmo," "Satch," and "Pops," was an American jazz and blues trumpeter and vocalist. He was one of the most influential figures in jazz, with a career spanning five decades. This classic song is credited to Armstrong, showcasing his enduring legacy.

AI-written from these sources:Louis Armstrong — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

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Chord Book

670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com

Mack The Knife

by Louis Armstrong

Lyrics & chords · Original key

[Verse 1]

C Dm

Oh, the shark has pretty teeth dear

G7 C

And he shows 'em, pearly white

Am Dm

Just a jack knife has Macheath dear

G7 C

And he keeps it way out of sight

[Verse 2]

C Dm

When that shark bites with his teeth, dear

G7 C

Scarlet billows begin to spread

Am Dm

Fancy gloves though has Macheath dear

G7 C

So there's never, never a trace of red

[Verse 3]

C Dm

On the sidewalk, one Sunday morning

G7 C

Lies a body, oozin' life

Am Dm

Someone's sneaking 'round the corner

G7 C

Could that someone be Mack the knife

[Verse 4]

C Dm

From a tugboat, on the river going slow

G7 C

A cement bag is dropping on down

Am Dm

You know that cement is for the weight dear

G7 C

You can make a large bet Mackie's back in town

[Verse 5]

C Dm

Look at Louis Miller, he dissappeared, dear,

G7 C

After drawing out his cash

Am Dm

Now Macheath spends like a sailor

G7 C

Do you suppose our boy, he's done something rash...

About Mack The Knife Chords by Louis Armstrong

Learn how to play Mack The Knife by Louis Armstrong with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Mack The Knife chords”, “Mack The Knife guitar chords”, or “Louis Armstrong Mack The Knife chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Mack The Knife chords and for experienced players who want accurate Mack The Knife lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, Dm, G7, Am, A.

FAQ — Mack The Knife by Louis Armstrong

How do I play "Mack The Knife" by Louis Armstrong on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Mack The Knife" by Louis Armstrong on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "Mack The Knife" by Louis Armstrong free?

Yes. The chords for "Mack The Knife" by Louis Armstrong are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Mack The Knife" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Mack The Knife" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Mack The Knife"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Mack The Knife" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Mack The Knife" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Mack The Knife" by Louis Armstrong with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Louis Armstrong below.

What key is "Mack The Knife" in?

The chords for "Mack The Knife" show the original chord names (including C, Dm, G7, Am, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.