El Cóndor Pasa ( The Condor Passes) / If I could

El Cóndor Pasa, Spanish for "The Condor Passes") is an orchestral musical piece from the zarzuela El Cóndor Pasa by the Peruvian composer Daniel Alomía Robles, written in 1913 and based on traditional Andean music, specifically folk music from Peru. Since then, it has been estimated that around the world, more than 4000 versions of the melody have been produced, along with 300 sets of lyrics.

In 2004, Peru declared this song as part of the national cultural heritage.This song is now considered the second national anthem of Peru. It is the best-known Peruvian song in the English-speaking world due to a 1970 cover by Simon & Garfunkel on their Bridge over Troubled Water album. Their version is called "El Cóndor Pasa (If I Could)".

English Lyrics:

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
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
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

​And one of the most beautiful versions, is by sung Italian singer Gigliola Cinquetti with Italian lyrics.

​Italian lyrics:

L'amore come un condor scenderà
Il mio cuor colpirà Poi se ne andrà.
La luna nel deserto fiorirà
Tu verrai solo un bacio e poi
Mi lascerai.
Chissà domani dove andrai
Che farai?
Mi penserai?
Lo so, tu non ti fermi mai
Ma pensa che io non vivrei
Come potrei?
Un fiore dal dolore nascerà
Il mio cuor pungerà
Poi morirà.
L'amore come un condor volerà
Fin lassù e così mai più
Ritornerà.
Lo so, tu non ti fermi mai
Ma pensa che io non vivrei
​Come potrei?
​