Simon had mistakenly assumed this was an Andean folk song and initially took sole writer's credit, but after a friendly court case he added Robles to the writer's credits.
El Condor Pasa / If I Could
Simon & Garfunkel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yes I would, if I could, I surely would
I'd rather be a hammer than a nail
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
Its saddest sound
I'd rather be a forest than a street
Yes I would, if I could, I surely would
I'd rather feel the earth beneath my feet
Yes I would, if I only could, I surely would
The lyrics to Simon & Garfunkel's song "El Condor Pasa" express a desire for freedom and a longing to be unencumbered by human constraints. The first stanza, "I'd rather be a sparrow than a snail / Yes I would, if I could, I surely would / I'd rather be a hammer than a nail / Yes I would, if I only could, I surely would," suggest a desire for autonomy and self-determination. The singer wishes to be a bird, free to fly away at will, rather than a slow-moving snail. They also express a desire to be the one wielding the hammer, rather than the one being hammered down.
The second stanza, "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 its saddest sound / Its saddest sound," further underscores this desire for freedom. The singer wishes to sail away like a swan, free to come and go as they please. They contrast this with the condition of humanity, which is "tied up to the ground" and unable to escape its earthly bounds. The singer suggests that this is what gives the world its "saddest sound."
The final stanza, "I'd rather be a forest than a street / Yes I would, if I could, I surely would / I'd rather feel the earth beneath my feet / Yes I would, if I only could, I surely would," continues this theme of connection to nature and autonomy. The singer suggests that they would rather be a forest, wild and free, than a street, which connotes man-made structures and constraints. They also express a desire to feel the earth beneath their feet, suggesting a yearning for a direct connection to the natural world.
Line by Line Meaning
I'd rather be a sparrow than a snail
I would rather live a life of freedom and fly around than be stuck in one place and move slowly like a snail.
Yes I would, if I could, I surely would
The singer really wants to live that life and is willing to take the chance if the opportunity presented itself.
I'd rather be a hammer than a nail
I would rather be the one who takes action and makes an impact, rather than being passive and taking whatever is given to me.
Away, I'd rather sail away
I want to escape from my current situation and explore new horizons.
Like a swan that's here and gone
Like a swan that appears in a flash and then disappears, the artist wants to live a life that is fleeting and full of adventure.
A man gets tied up to the ground
People get bogged down by responsibilities and societal expectations that prevent them from pursuing their dreams.
He gives the world its saddest sound
When a person is tied down to responsibilities and cannot pursue their dreams, it is a sad and mournful sound for the world to hear.
Its saddest sound
The sound of a person being unable to pursue their dreams is a very melancholy and depressing sound.
I'd rather be a forest than a street
Rather than living in a bustling and busy urban environment, the artist would prefer a peaceful and natural environment like a forest with trees, undergrowth, and animals.
I'd rather feel the earth beneath my feet
The artist wants to be grounded and connected to nature, rather than being isolated in a sterile or artificially created environment.
Yes I would, if I only could, I surely would
The singer desires the change, but is unsure if they will ever get to experience it.
Lyrics © Budde Music Publishing GmbH, BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PAUL SIMON, JORGE MILCHBERG, DANIEL ALOMIA ROBLES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@EllisHovey
[Verse 1: Paul Simon]
I'd rather be a sparrow than a snail
Yes I would
If I could
I surely would
[Verse 2: Paul Simon]
I'd rather be a hammer than a nail
Yes I would
If I only could
I surely would
[Bridge: Art Garfunkel]
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
Its saddest sound
Its saddest sound
[Verse 3: Paul Simon]
I'd rather be a forest than a street
Yes I would
If I could
I surely would
[Verse 4: Paul Simon]
I'd rather feel the earth beneath my feet
Yes I would
If I only could
I surely would
@danitotd
@@weatheranddarkness i like this one
https://youtu.be/z0CFPi3F8RU?si=p1wrE4SJxtg5gKqS
And the lyrics of this one
https://youtu.be/epOqHow0dOM?si=2WpBshfDhBDmbcak
I highly recommend you listen to Alborada is you like Andean music!
@PooDotStinkPants
If you cover Paul's face with your finger(s)...Art has an epic handlebar moustache!
@NisaHassan
AHAHAHAH
@miltonmoore8369
You are MEGA-OBSERVANT!
👍👏👍👏👍👏👍
@chepito6152
Yes I would
@henryulric
lol
@MonkeyHunch1
lol how did i never notice that before :)
@seligmansdog5803
Twenty years ago, I was a teenager , my dad gave this cassette to me. Two months ago, my poor dad passed away for Aortic Dissection at age 62. Now, I marinate myself in those memories with this melodious song. Sweet Jesus, I miss him so much.
@andersonricardo1230
Obrigado pelo suporte e por estarmos juntos na vida real nos últimos meses. A gente se vê, irmão.
@Trainchud65
Dear reader, no, dear friend, I compliment you on your magnificent taste in music, may your life be filled with happiness.
@Aeyo
Thankyou dear friend