This is a slight reinterpretation of dQQm's tab on UG in addition to Mahayana's tab here: http://jazzguitar.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=comping& action=display&thread=419&page=1. Chords (remember to swing 'em!): Bb (x 1 3 3 3 1) Cm (x 3 5 5 4 3) Cm7(x 3 5 3 4 3) Gm (3 5 5 3 3 3), although I like playing it without the root F#7 (2 4 2 3 3 3), although I often skip the top two strings F7 (1 3 1 2 1 1) OR (x 3 3 2 4 x) This second chord probably isn't F7 for all I know, but it allows you to to throw in one of these (x 3 3 0 x x)after it. I chose these chord shapes because they are easy to move. Starting with the third verse (and throughout the rest of the song), each verse requires you to shift up a half step. This is how the song is performed on the album version that I have (from a V/A collection called "Absolute Unforgettable") and on the handful of live performances on YouTube. So, with lyrics:

Oh, the s^Bbhark, babe, has such t^Cmeeth, dear^Cm7 And he sh^F7ows them pearly wh^Bbites Just a ja^Gmckknife has old Mac^CmHeath, b^Cm7abe And he ke^F7eps it out of sight. ^Bb

Ya know when that s^Bbhark bites, with his t^Cmeeth, babe ^Cm7 Scarlet bi^F7llows start to sp^Bbread Fancy gl^Gmoves, though, wears old M^CmacHeath, babe^Cm7 F7 Bb F#7 (Transition to verse 3) So there's never, never a trace of red.

From here on out, each verse is one half step higher than the previous one. Simply shift everything up one fret and keep on swingin'! F#7 (or whatever the chord may be, depending on where you are in the song) should provide a comfortable transition into the next verse. For those interested in the big picture, the song begins in Bb and ends in Eb. Here are the rest of the lyrics: Now on the sidewalk, Sunday mornin' Lies a body just oozin' life And someone's sneakin' 'round the corner Could that someone be Mack the Knife? There's a tugboat down by the river dontcha know Where a cement bag's just a'droopin' on down Oh, that cement is just, it's there for the weight, dear Five'll get ya ten, old Macky's back in town. Louie Miller, he disappeared, babe After drawin' out all his hard-earned cash And now MacHeath spends just like a sailor Could it be our boy's done somethin' rash? Now Jenny Diver, oh Sukey Tawdry Oh Miss Lotte Lenya and old Lucy Brown Oh, the line forms on the right, babe Now that Macky's back in town. I said Jenny Diver, whoa, Sukey Tawdry Look out to Miss Lotte Lenya and old Lucy Brown Yes, that line forms on the right, babe Now that Macky's back in town. Look out old Macky is back!! Comments, suggestions, and corrections are welcome.

Bobby Darin - Mack the knife