The Peanut Vendor And How I Broke His Heart ~ Havana

“Words make you think. Music makes you feel. A song makes you feel a thought.  ~ Yip Harburg

Sitting on his concrete perch outside the boxing gymnasium, the distinguished old man held his rolls of peanuts while singing softly to himself.

He had a beautiful voice from what I could hear, and then… as a group of people came out of the church, from across the street, and walked toward him, he sang out:

Mani….mani…..mani…

 Peanuts ….peanuts….peanuts…

 in… a … slow… melodic … tenor voice.

No one stopped to buy his peanuts.

I asked if I could take his picture and he shook his head no. I smiled and nodded, OK.

There was a long silence between us; my Spanish rudimentary and his English also hard to detect.

He then asked me to buy his peanuts and I replied in a polite manner, “No thank you. I have no money.” I don’t think he believed or perhaps understood me, but he smiled back in a soft, kind way.  Our time in Cuba was drawing to a close in a couple of hours and I had already converted my money back into US dollars. We encountered no begging during our short visit in Havana and this man wasn’t begging…just simply selling his peanuts.

He began singing a beautiful song that I recognized as one I heard the night before in a pallador, a privately owned restaurant.

It was a love song.

He looked at me and sang this song for me.

I could not take my eyes off him and the words were like honey … sweet and pure and touched me deeply.

When he finished singing, I put my hands over my heart and told him how his lovely voice touched my heart and soul.

He looked at me and said, “Ahh, but you have broken my heart.”

I was stunned.

“How have I broken your heart?” I asked.

“You did not buy my peanuts.” He replied.

I again tried to explain that I truly didn’t have any money and would ask my husband for some when he was through with photographing and talking to the boxers.

I also told him his voice was like an angel.

He then looked at me and motioned for me to take his picture.

I did.

In fact, several times, and then I showed him the images through the playback mode on the camera.  He seemed pleased.

Just then, one of the men in our group came out of the gym.  I asked if he had any money for me to purchase the seller’s peanuts.  He gladly paid for them, then getting the go ahead from the vendor, he began taking pictures of this gentle, handsome man who sold peanuts for a living.

The peanut vendor thought the man was my husband and was now pleased to have his picture taken.

I could not get my mind off of him the rest of the day. Had he been a singer in a social club years ago? Was he an educated man who once taught at the University or was an engineer or a doctor? I don’t think this man has sold peanuts all his life. I would love to know. I rationalize about our language barrier and the difficulty we encountered in our short exchange of words. Still I wasn’t satisfied with my silence during those awkward moments.

When it was time for our group to go, I told the old man goodbye. I felt that both our hearts were mended as he smiled back at me and began humming. I believe there was even a twinkle in his eye.

I never found out the name of the love song he sang, but I leave you with one of the most well known Cuban songs called, The Peanut Vendor. You might even recognize it. It is a trip back to old Cuba in music and photos and well worth the few minutes.

* The Spanish word for peanuts is mani. Below is the English translation of The Peanut Vendor.

The Peanut Vendor

In Cuba each merry maid
wakes up with this serenade
Peanuts {they’re nice and hot}
Peanuts {he sells a lot} peanuts

If you haven’t got bananas don’t be blue
Peanuts in a little bag are calling you
Don’t waste them {no tummy ache}
You’ll taste them {when you’re awake}

For at the very break of day
The peanut vendor’s on his way

At dawning the whistle blows
{through every city, town and country lane
you hear him sing his plaintive little strain}
And as he goes by to you he’ll say

{Big jumbos} big jumbo ones
{Come buy those} peanuts roasted today
{Come buy those freshly roasted today}

If you’re looking for a moral to this song
50 million little monkeys can’t be wrong

{In Cuba his smiling face
is welcome most anyplace
Peanuts they hear him cry
Peanuts they all reply
If you’re looking for an early morning treat
Get some double jointed peanuts good to eat}

For breakfast {or dinnertime}
For supper {most anytime}
The merry twinkle in his eye
He’s got a way that makes you buy
{Each morning} that whistle blows
{Are you more than I sell}

If an apple keeps the doctor from your door
Peanuts ought to keep him from you even more

{Peanuts} we’ll meet again
This street again
You’ll eat again
You Peanut Man, that peanut man’s gone
{Peanut, peanut, peanut}