One of the best ways to learn English is through songs.

This video makes comments on the song: El Condor Pasa (by Simon and Garfunkle)

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 could,
I surely would.

Away, I'd rather sail away
Like a swan that's here and gone
A man grows older every day
It 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 could,
I surely would.

Away, I'd rather sail away
Like a swan that's here and gone
A man grows older every day
It gives the world
Its saddest sound,
Its saddest sound. 

"El Condor Pasa" is the title of the original Spanish song from Peru and it means "The Condor passes/flies by" (not "The Condor Pass" as the video suggests). Simon and Garfunkel copied the melody but changed the lyrics.

I'D RATHER = I WOULD RATHER = I prefer.

I'D RATHER is followed by infinitive without to:

- I'd rather stay here than go with you (= I prefer to stay here than going with you)

If both verbs have different subjects then WOULD RATHER is followed by the past:

- I'd rather you stayed here = I prefer you to stay here