Paul Simon first heard this song while on tour in Paris with Garfunkel in 1965. It was being played by a Peruvian band, Los Incas. Told it had been adapted from a traditional folk song by Los Incas' leader, Simon added some English lyrics to it and recorded it in 1970, including it on their Bridge Over Troubled Water album. Turns out, the Los Incas guy misled Paul in order to share in song royalties. The song was written in 1913 by a Peruvian composer, Daniel Alomía Robles, for a stage production of the same name. When Robles' son sued Simon for copyright infringement, Paul graciously acknowledged the misunderstanding and both sides settled. Later on Robles' son wrote Spanish lyrics for the song, basing it on Simon's English words. Thanks Debbie & Harri.

Omg! My very favorite Simon and Garfunkel song and one if my top 10 amongst of all time! Thank you for the reaction.

A beautiful song that unfortunately has become forgotten. I loved it back then still do. Thanks Deb for reviving this great song!!!

One of their best songs for sure! Love the pan flute!

I absolutely love this song. Thank you Harri

It gives me the chills, their voices are like angels, that flute is magical. Very haunting.

You may as well just start with their first album and play each song until the end of their career. These two never made a bad song. ❤❤❤

If this music doesn't get you in the feels, then don't know what to say. The Andean Flutes make it special.

Music from another dimension of beauty and reality.

You can never run out of great music to react to, they might not all be top ten hits, but they should be

I love all Paul Simons songs, he's a Music Legend..

This is what I like about the internet. A Peruvian song is adapted by a USA duo who are recommended by a lady of Chinese name to a UK KZfaqr of (I'm guessing) Jamaican descent. all for me, a New Zealander from the South Pacific. Awesome!

This is so beautiful, a sensitive and moving ballad, that sweeps you away with the flutes so generously penetrating the air and the drums strumming in unison. Such a great Simon and Garfunkel delivery. Great reaction Harri. Thanks Harri and Debbie.👏👏 Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦

Brilliant pick Debbie Chang. Such a beautiful song. Thanks Debbie and Harri. ✌❤👍

This song gets me emotional, because my father used to play this song a whole lot when i was growing up. He passed away in 2019 [R.I.P.]

Back in 1970, when I bought the 'Bridge over troubled water' album, this song and 'The boxer' took over my as favs of the album from the title track. Cheers Harri. ✌

That "flute" is in fact a Quena (keh-nah) a Peruvian instrument with at least 10,000 years of existence - according to archeological findings - (the first Quenas where made with human and condor bones). And that little string instrument that's heard in the background is a CHARANGO (chah rahn goh), a Peruvian that originals made of the Spanish guitar very early in the Peruvian history... XVI century...and the song was composed in 1913 for a Peruvian musical, that was premiered in Lima Perú with great success - the plot of the musical its about how originals are loosing their traditions because of the advance of big mining companies and the trains that happened in Perú in the end of the XIX century... The author Daniel Alomías Robles had that success that in fact he ended in N York, with contracts to make music for Broadway and films as well!

Interestingly enough, Paul Simon was sued over this song for copyright reasons, as he misunderstood who owned the song and thought it was a song by a band, Los Incas and got their permission to use, but, the son of the actual writer, Daniel Alomía Robles, filed a claim, which was upheld in court, largely in part, because Paul Simon, just said, oh, I made a mistake, and did not really contest the suit. Class act on his part. The son re-released the song in Spanish, but took Paul Simon's lyrics as inspiration. From the son, Armando, about the case: "It was an almost friendly court case because Paul Simon was very respectful of other cultures. It was not carelessness on his part", said Armando Robles Godoy. "He happened to hear the song in Paris from a vernacular group Los Incas. He liked it, he went to ask the band for permission and they gave him the wrong information. Jorge Milchberg told him it was a traditional folk song from the 18th century and not my father's composition. It was a court case without further complications."

It's a very magical tune. (Simon singing) When I was a kid and I would lie in the grass and watch the clouds like kids do, this song would always be playing in my head.

Paul Simon is possibly the greatest songwriter of all time. When you consider the depth and quality of his songbook and the genres he covered it would be hard to find anyone better. I attended a concert on the last tour he and Art Garfunkel had. It was two hours of great hit after hit, with no filler or unknown numbers.

Long live Peru 🇵🇪. This version of "El Condor pasa" which is a 100% Peruvian piece of music is excellent.

I haven't heard this Simon and Garfunkel classic in years, Debbie. I always knew it was their song but I never knewthe title. Simply beautiful - thanks, Debbie and Harri.

Such a great song by Simon and Garfunkel. Thanks Debbie and Harri.

The singing was done by both Simon & Garfunkel...Simon did the verses but all the higher range vocals were done by Garfunkel. Got to say I loved loved loved Garfunkels harmonies.

Love this song. When it was still new, for my 11th grade multimedia class I did a music video for it. Teacher didn't get it, but most the class did.

Peruvian guitarist Paola Hermosin does a really good arrangement of this on classical guitar. (You tube 2022). She explains that the music was inspired by the tale of indigenous workers exploited by a mine owner. On the day the mine owner died a condor soared overhead and the workers took it as an omen of freedom.

This is one of my favorite Paul Simon songs and I have repeatedly suggested it. Like most of the Simon and Garfunkel music this was written by Paul Simon. This is on The best Of Paul’s Simon album.

Always got goose bumps, shivering on my back, when listening, the whole album was incredible, 1970, Bridge over troubled water album !!!

These guys had a knack of all their songs sounding ,beautiful, and melodic but when you listen to the lyrics wow some real dark stuff their great duo! great song!!. ; )

This is probably my second (or third) favorite song by Simon and Garfunkel... my favorite is always The Boxer, followed by either El Condor Pasa or Sound of Silence. Thank you for the reaction... it was a pleasure to watch you become totally enraptured in it :)

I was so happy to see you react to this song, it's my all-time favorite song. I even have the music tattooed on my forearm. Their original recording is better, but this is still lovely.

Magical Musicians.

This song is a traditional Peruvian song from the acesteal Incas (INKA EMPIRE) Indigenous people of Los Andes.. Nobody knows who wrote this song because the original language of the song is Ketchua, but it's believed that it comes from the 14th century... A typical song from the Machu Pichu near Cuzco in Perú. A very beautiful rendition by Paul Simon

Ive been waiting for a reaction to this song. Loved it since i was a little kid.

💗💗💗 So beautiful!!!💗💗💗

South American sound. Looks like Machu Pichu. I cry through this each time I hear it, so spiritual. The think of all of God's Creations and Blessings. Thank You Father. Amen.

It's interesting how people get different feelings from listening to the same song. The flute and drums have always given me a gypsyish, carnivalesque flavor, wandering, free.

This is folk music. Thanks John_Chu, I knew it was not rooted in a US song. The folk was Peruvian, but the Paul Simon adaptation is special. This whole album is special.

There is no bad song on this album.

Thanks for reminding me of this song. I don't have this album, I must rectify that.

OK OK you got me hooked. I'm a couple videos in please keep em coming.

Another great one here for sure love you

Harri, it’s always a pleasure to watch you enjoying a song you haven’t heard before. Your facial expressions and body language speak volumes. Thanks for a lovely reaction 🌺✌️

Are we ready for a journey to Machu Pichu and the high Andes...this is what this song evokes.

It says on one of the other song reviews that the music was written by a Paruvian musician (many decades ago and Paul Simon added the words).

Greetings from Peru 🇵🇪✌️

Halleluah 🙏🙏☝️🙏☝️🙏

Absolutely transportive! One of my favourites by Simon & Garfunkel.

There is a song on Pau Simon’s first solo album called Duncan, The chorus reminds me of this song

They were taking turns singing. Paul Simon may have been the musical genius, but Art Garfunkel's voice was just sublime.

Debbie, please forgive me for not commenting until now. I was scrolling through submissions and comments and noticed that I missed this one. I am very familiar with this and most Simon and Garfunkel songs. I have always enjoyed this song, and it was a very good choice to submit. Then again, I can't recall a song that you have submitted that I haven't enjoyed.

A classic peruvian song. A timeless masterpiece.

❤️❤️love this song ❤️❤️ Simon and Garfunkel lyrics to a traditional folk song 👏👏 The Connection between Earth and Sky is wonderful.. ☺️✌️

most of S & G's songs are brilliant my two favourites are 'April she will come' and 'The boxer' (The 59th Bridge Street' song)

Harri Your fashion sense is just as good as your music analysis. Love the wardrobe!

This song is the theme song from the movie Wild (2014) with Reese Witherspoon.

The images you see are of Machu Pichu, in the Paruvian Andes mountains. The music is a traditional folk song of Peru played on traditional instruments. The words are Paul Simon's.

I love this song and wanted to get hear other artists doing it. Harri, there is a steel guitar artist by the name of Doug Beaumier who plays this song and a native American (?) by the name of Leo Rojas who plays this song on the pan pipes. Both are fantastic.

I absolutely love this song, but my favorite by them will always be "Kathy's Song."

Haven't heard this one for ages.Thanks Debbie and Harri.

Viva el perú !!!

❤️☮️

In concert, Paul Simon often combines this song with "Duncan" -- a stunningly touching coming-of-age-tale -- because it employs the same Peruvian instrumentation. If you like El Condor Pasa, do yourself a favor and listen to Duncan.

Thanks!

It's a great song from a legendary album, but this is an odd edit. Someone has spliced in/added Garfunkel's chorus "Away, I'd rather sail away" two additional times in the song, perhaps to lengthen it. Simon's "Sparrow/Snail" and "Hammer/Nail" stanzas are supposed to be together (without Garfunkel's interlude), and so are the "Forest/Street" and "Earth beneath my feet" stanzas. It's originally a shorter song, both album and single versions. Still beautiful though.

They have so many great songs

Not much in the way of words, but you are right in that it's just so beautiful! I was thinking more Peruvian than oriental and they both sang. I love this song and great to know you do, too. Fantastic reaction!

Also Combining this song with video from Manchu Picchu is really cool

El Condor Pasa was written in 1913 and based upon a Peruvian folk song. Paul Simon heard Los Incas perform it in the mid 1960s and thought it would make a good Simon & Garfunkel song. I believe the lyrics are Paul Simon's. So, that is Los Incas performing the backing track with their charangos and Peruvian pan pipes. As for who is singing, that's easy: Paul Simon sings the most of the track except for the bridge, which is Art Garfunkel. That's the "away, I'd rather sail away..." part. This particular version that you played has been edited and sliced and diced. You might want to listen to the actual Bridge Over Troubled Water album track which hasn't been hacked to pieces.

The background is Machu Picchu in the Andes of Peru.

Послушайте " кондора" в исполнении Пура Алькантара и Имы Сумак❤

Some of the lyrics were missing, or got transposed out of place somehow. Yes, the rhyming couplets of each verse are being interrupted by the Garfunkel part. That's now how the song goes. This is all wrong.

GREAT shirt, Harri!

I don't know about the early Simon and Garfunkel albums, but I owned the last two Simon and Garfunkel albums and all of Simon's solo albums up through Graceland and I don't think there is one cover on any of them. So, when it is a song that involves Simon, just assume he wrote it. But there is one special Sam Cooke cover of What a Wonderful World that was released as a single and featured Simon, Garfunkel and James Taylor sharing the lead and the most breath-taking harmonies. Paul and Artie split up rather acrimoniously, but in 1975 Paul helped his old partner whose albums weren't doing near as well as Paul's in the few years since the split. He wrote a song, My Little Town for Art which they recorded together and released as a single by Simon and Garfunkel which ofc became a hit because it was like a brief Simon and Gar reunion and appeared on Art's album. Then in 1977 he orchestrated the recruitment of James Taylor to record the Cooke cover and that also appeared on Artie's album. One last thing, Simon's 1981 Hearts and Bones is his most underrated album and one of my favorites.

Harri, the early comments are correct. The second verse that says hammer vs nail should be back to back with the first verse of sparrow vs snail. However this mix inserts the chorus in between ruining the flow and rhyme. For those of us who have loved it for 54 years it’s grating to the ear. I did confirm on Bridge Over Troubled Water, but knew immediately. Not a knock though! You are great and we love your reactions; so pure and passionate. But for your own personal enjoyment, please take in the proper cut off the album. Keep on rocking’!

Great song, I like "So Long Frank Lloyd Wright" better, as similar genre for them.

Far be it for me to correct S & G, but where the lyric says "A man gets tied up to the ground" I immediately thought: - I would have written "... tied DOWN to the ground" Just a thought. 🙂

🇵🇪🇵🇪🇵🇪🇵🇪🇵🇪🇵🇪

Machupichu...it's a wonder city in peru

Harri B, you and many of your commenters may not be aware of Simon And Garfunkel's great first '67 hit song titled "Fakin' It."

NO SE OLVIDE LA TRADUCCIÓN PORFAVOR

I remember that the origins of this song go back to slave laborers in the Andes who believed the occasional condor that would fly overhead was a symbol of freedom.

listen to till I die by beach boys years before this and you will see they got the idea for tis song

Its a Peruvian folk song and the flute is more pan flute

I have never been sure if it was a flute or a pan pipe. Anyone know?

have always loved this song, weird edit tho

The phone always sounded real spooky to me. I don't know why. Peace!

I don't know if the flute can even be played with so much constant fluttering ??? - lol - my guess is the producer had the flautist play it straight and then added the extra echo later

This is different from the original release. The way they moved the lyric, ‘I’d rather be a hammer than a nail,’ ruined it for me. The snail and nail lyrics are supposed to be together, as are the street and feet lyrics. Perhaps it was posted by someone who was making an extended version.

Not flutes, South American pan pipes.

Is this a remix? I don't remember the rhymes of the verses being SEPARATED from each other by the chrous. It ruins the rhyme scheme. Now find the original and you'll see what I mean. How many bars after "snail" are we supposed to wait before we hear "nail" its rhyme??🤔

Pan flutes.

This doesn't sound right bad mix?

What did they do to this? It's all chopped up and out of order. Try to find the original recording. It's a beautiful song the way it was recorded. Who was the fool who thought they could re-mix a better version? Vandalism.

This is a truncated version. ☹️

The production on this is SO horrible, it must have been the Coked-up PSYCHOTIC Phil Spector.