Magic Pennies

At the beginning of the year, a couple of the teachers and I realized that, between the three of us, we knew the Magic Penny song in three different languages. We sang it at the opening convocation, and at every faculty meeting thereafter. Multilingualism is one of my favorite aspects of Puerto Cabezas. "Happy Birthday," for example, is always sung in at least Spanish, English, and Miskitu, even in Creole communities that express disdain for the Miskitu presence in Puerto. It always reminds me of the Pentecost.

Love is something if you give it away
Give it away, give it away,
Love is something if you give it away,
You end up having more.

It's just like a magic penny;
Hold on tight, and you won't have any.
Lend it, spend it, you'll have so many,
They'll roll all over the floor.

Dale amor a tu prójimo
Dáselo, dáselo
Dale amor a tu prójimo,
Y lo recibirás.

No es como el dinero,
Que se guarda para no gastar.
Préstalo, regálalo,
Y regresará a ti.

Latwan laka uplara yayasma,
Yayasma, yayasma.
Latwan laka uplara yayasma,
Bara kli manra balbia.

Lahla baku apia sa,
Karna atkaia tikaia apia wisi
Len muns tiks bara uplara yas
Bara kli manra balbia.

How do you fit so many syllables in the Miskitu version? By singing it really fast. Also note that there is no magic penny in either the Spanish or Miskitu versions. Still, Pentecost.