I'd rather be a sparrow than a snail,
Yes, I would,
If I could,
I surely would . . . hmm
I'd rather be a hammer than a nail,
Yes, I would,
If I only could,
I surely would . . . hmm
Away, I'd rather sail away,
Like a swan that's here and gone . . .
A man gets tied up to the ground,
He gives the world it's saddest sound,
It's saddest sound . . . hmm
I'd rather be a forest than a street,
Yes, I would,
If I could,
I surely would . . . hmm
I'd rather feel the earth beneath my feet,
Yes, I would,
If I only could,
I surely would . . .
Away, I'd rather sail away,
Like a swan that's here and gone . . .
A man gets tied up to the ground,
He gives the world it's saddest sound,
It's saddest sound . . .
I'd rather feel the earth beneath my feet,
Yes, I would,
If I only could,
I surely would . . .
Yes I would . . .
Arrangement of 18th Century Peruvian folk melody by Jorge Milchberg
Notated in 1916 by Daniel Alomias Robles