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

Instrumental break

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 . .

Instrumental break

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