Like most folk I'm familiar enough with the more classic hits of Simon and Garfunkel, but when I heard the simple yet hauntingly beautiful Sparrow, I knew I had to share:
Sparrow*
Who will love a little Sparrow?
Who's traveled far and cries for rest?
"Not I," said the Oak Tree,
"I won't share my branches with
no sparrow's nest,
And my blanket of leaves won't warm
her cold breast."
Who will love a little Sparrow
And who will speak a kindly word?
"Not I," said the Swan,
"The entire idea is utterly absurd,
I'd be laughed at and scorned if the
other Swans heard."
Who will take pity in his heart,
And who will feed a starving sparrow?
"Not I," said the Golden Wheat,
"I would if I could but I cannot I know,
I need all my grain to prosper and grow."
Who will love a little Sparrow?
Will no one write her eulogy?
"I will," said the Earth,
"For all I've created returns unto me,
From dust were ye made and dust ye shall be."
"Not I," said the Oak Tree,
"I won't share my branches with
no sparrow's nest,
And my blanket of leaves won't warm
her cold breast."
Who will love a little Sparrow
And who will speak a kindly word?
"Not I," said the Swan,
"The entire idea is utterly absurd,
I'd be laughed at and scorned if the
other Swans heard."
Who will take pity in his heart,
And who will feed a starving sparrow?
"Not I," said the Golden Wheat,
"I would if I could but I cannot I know,
I need all my grain to prosper and grow."
Who will love a little Sparrow?
Will no one write her eulogy?
"I will," said the Earth,
"For all I've created returns unto me,
From dust were ye made and dust ye shall be."
♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪
Greed, vanity, and hypocrisy abound. So, who will love the little sparrows?
* from their debut album, Wednesday Morning, 3AM, released October 19, 1964
Believe it or not I have this album...it was one of the first I ever purchased. The Earth is the mother of us all and we are foolishly harming our mother. And I will love the sparrows...but I can't make everyone do so. It's an excellent song.
Believe it or not, I had this album, too! I played it frequently - a lot of great songs. This sounds like a more recent recording, though - maybe something they sang during a reunion concert? Their voices don't have the perfect clarity I remember.
From my teen years I had "I Am a Rock" memorized forward and back... I was good even then at brick walling myself from others. I heard the sparrow song but didn't know more than that single line. Goes to show how that "rock mentality" also injures the possessor.
Thank you for a long overdue chance at further enlightenment via the voice and lyrics of this multi-talented duo. The song and video are absolutely beautiful! <3
Thank you for posting this song!! I saved a baby sparrow 3 months ago and started soft release a month ago. She comes back every day to feed and hang out with me. Sadly, I've to leave in 2 weeks...I've asked someone to leave food out for her but I'm still very worried. Today I saw a feral cat got one of her friends and it breaks my heart that I cannot protect my little friend anymore. And yes, I'm thinking about going vegan - I feel so connected to this little creature that has no worth in this world. For a few times now, the morning after a stormy night, she would snuggle in my palm as if to tell me it was a bad night. But she wants to be free and should be. Who will love a little sparrow? I WILL!!