Formed at the University of San Francisco in early 1965, We Five had a hit … Read Full Bio ↴Formed at the University of San Francisco in early 1965, We Five had a hit months later with their version of Ian & Sylvia's "You Were On My Mind," which eventually reached #3 on the Billboard charts. The hit record helped popularize folk-rock. Unfortunately, with only one other hit ("Let's Get Together" before the Youngbloods' version hit big), We Five eventually broke up in 1967.

Small World
We Five Lyrics

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Funny
You're a stranger who's come here
Come from another town
Funny
I'm a stranger myself here
Small world, isn't it?

Funny

You're a man who goes traveling rather than settling down
Funny
Cause I love to go traveling
Small world, isn't it?

Funny
You're a stranger who's come here
Come from another town
Funny
I'm a stranger myself here
Small world, isn't it?

Lucky
You're a girl who likes children
That's an important sign
Lucky
Cause I'd love to have children
Small world, isn't it?

Small and funny
And fine

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to We Five's Small World focus on the idea of the world being small, with the irony that the people singing are strangers to each other in a strange town. The singer realizes that despite their differences, they have similarities that have brought them to this place. The first verse specifically highlights the fact that the person the singer is singing to is a stranger who has come from another town. And yet, the singer acknowledges that she is also a stranger, which underscores the point of how interconnected their lives are.

The second verse focuses on the idea that the stranger is a man who travels rather than settling down, while the singer herself loves to travel. Again, we see the irony of these two strangers having this in common despite their differences. This then leads to a shared desire for children in the chorus, with the idea that their hearts, despite being strangers, are in sync with each other. This theme is then repeated in the third verse, where once again, the two are acknowledged as strangers to each other yet share some similarities.

Line by Line Meaning

Funny
It's strange

You're a stranger who's come here
You are someone I do not know who has arrived here

Come from another town
You came from a different place

Funny
It's strange

I'm a stranger myself here
I am also someone who is not from here

Small world, isn't it?
It's amazing how we both ended up here

Funny
It's strange

You're a man who goes traveling rather than settling down
You are someone who enjoys traveling instead of getting comfortable in one place

Funny
It's strange

Cause I love to go traveling
Because I also enjoy traveling

Small world, isn't it?
It's amazing how we both share the same interest