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