Ballad of the Easy Life Lyrics > Threepenny Opera

[MACHEATH, spoken]
A question please: Is that what you call living? Then take a little tip from Mack the Knife. While still a child, I heard it with misgiving: the bulging pocket makes the easy life.
(sung)
They tell you that the best in life is mental
Just starve yourself and do a lot of reading
Up in some garret where the rats are breeding
Should you survive, it's purely accidental
If that's your pleasure, go on, live that way
But since I've had it up to here, I'm through
There's not a dog from here to Timbuktu
Would care to live that life a single day
So listen closely to Mack the Knife
The bulging pocket makes the easy life

Now once I used to think it might be worthy
To be a brave and sacrificing person
I soon found out it wasn't reimbursin'
Decided to continue being earthy
The noble poor are nobly underfed
And being brave will bring an empty fame
You're all alone with no one else to blame
You're mingling with the great but you are dead
Where's the percentage? Ask Mack the Knife
The bulging pocket makes the easy life
Last Update: October, 24th 2023