Megna's, the Italian Green Grocer - performed by Tim O'Brien

The first time I heard Tim O'Brien sing Megna's, it reminded me of growing up in our little New Jersey town on the cliffs above the Hudson River--and of
Pete the Peddler...

Pete would stop his truck every few blocks, just about every other day, fully loaded with all sorts of fruits and vegetables, and he would sign out, "Pee-Chez, Pee-Chez" (peaches), "Tow-MAT-Tows!"..., nineteen cents a pound!" "Wa-tah-mel-OHN-ays!"

He had a big open bed truck with the boxes of produce displayed at an angle on the back. The scale hung from a hook. The women would yell down their order from the windows, throw the money down in a paper bag, and he sometimes leave it on their stoop... or more often they'd come and get it and listen to neighborhood gossip. He would tip his wide-brimmed fedora as they paid and said good-bye.

On a recent trip to Italy I was happy to see that Fruit and Vegetable trucks are still a common thing there. I miss them here. This video of Tim O'Brien singing his song "Megna's" tells a similar tale about a fruit and veggie truck. Enjoy.

--Jerry Finzi