As many others have said, these lyrics express the speaker's wish to be in control of his own fate, and it advocates anti-conformity (as many other songs/poems composed by Paul Simon also do). Take for example the first line, "I'd rather be a sparrow than a snail". A sparrow is a bird, an animal capable of flight, signifying freedom. Conversely, a snail is not only limited in it's inability to fly, it is also known as a particularly slow, sluggish creature. By choosing the sparrow of the snail the speaker is showing his wish to overcome any limitations or expectations and be free. This message is reiterated throughout the song through the various other proclaimed preferences.
As many others have said, these lyrics express the speaker's wish to be in control of his own fate, and it advocates anti-conformity (as many other songs/poems composed by Paul Simon also do). Take for example the first line, "I'd rather be a sparrow than a snail". A sparrow is a bird, an animal capable of flight, signifying freedom. Conversely, a snail is not only limited in it's inability to fly, it is also known as a particularly slow, sluggish creature. By choosing the sparrow of the snail the speaker is showing his wish to overcome any limitations or expectations and be free. This message is reiterated throughout the song through the various other proclaimed preferences.