The military coup of September 11, 1973 found him in Chile and it was only due to international diplomatic mediation that he was able to safely leave his country. Late in 1973, Manns settled in Cuba where he began a life in exile that was to last decades. During his period in the Caribbean island he composed and recorded accompanied by the Symphony Orchestra of Cuba "Cuando Me Acuerdo de Mi País" ("When I Remember My Country", some years later recorded by Mercedes Sosa) and other songs that were featured in his LP "Canción sin Limites" ("Songs with out limits"). He collaborated with Humberto Solás with the script for the movie "La Cantata de Chile" ("Cantata of Chile") (1976) and also wrote the text for the musical work of Leo Brouwer which the movie was named after.