El Organito (The Organ Grinder)

El Ultimo Organito

Written by: Homero Manzi Music by: Acho Manzi

Orchestra: Anibal Troilo Sung by: Edmundo Rivera

The street organ grinder
played an important role in the history of Tango. He played tango music on the streets of Buenos Aires From the late 1800's through the early 1900's at a time when Tango was not widely accepted among the upper classes in Buenos Aires; tango musicians would not play their instruments on the streets; phonographic technology was hardly available; and before the wide spread availability of the radio.

Because of the street organ grinder, tango music was able to filter through open windows into the homes of the upper middle class who otherwise would not admit to enjoying the music. Children would dance and play to the lyrical melodies played on the organs, and tango tunes were in the minds and on the lips of the people listening to the organ grinders in the city and the suburbs.

El Ultimo Organito by Jose Marchi

Hear the organ grinder play
'La Morocha' CLICK PLAYER TWICE

It was considered good luck to give a coin to the organ grinder and some of the organ grinders would give out a paper fortune in exchange.

There was one such musician known to have over 60 sayings and fortunes to give out and there was hardly a young lady who wouldn't gladly give a coin for one of his sayings.

There are many Tangos that refer to the street organ grinder. Our favorite is 'El Ultimo Organito' with lyrics by Homero Manzi who was the most famous of all tango poetic lyricists, with music by his son Acho.

Of the several versions of this song our favorite is played by Anibal Troilo and sung by Edmundo Rivero.

Hear this version of 'El Ultimo Organito'
CLICK PLAYER TWICE

El Ultimo Organito
Las ruedas embarradas del último organito
vendrán desde la tarde buscando el arrabal,
con un caballo flaco y un rengo y un monito
y un coro de muchachas vestidas de percal.

Con pasos apagados elegirá la esquina
donde se mezclan luces de luna y almacén
para que bailen valses detrás de la hornacina
la pálida marquesa y el pálido marqués.

El último organito irá de puerta en puerta
hasta encontrar la casa de la vecina muerta,
de la vecina aquella que se cansó de amar;
y allí molerá tangos para que llore el ciego,
el ciego inconsolable del verso de Carriego,
que fuma, fuma y fuma sentado en el umbral.

Tendrá una caja blanca el último organito
y el asma del otoño sacudirá su son,
y adornarán sus tablas cabezas de angelitos
y el eco de su piano será como un adiós.

Saludarán su ausencia las novias encerradas
abriendo las persianas detrás de su canción,
y el último organito se perderá en la nada
y el alma del suburbio se quedará sin voz