Share this song
Tweet this song
Wikipedia search
Musicbrainz DB;){kind=link}
Conquistador your stallion stands
in need of company
and like some angel's haloed brow
you reek of purity
I see your armour-plated breast
has long since lost its sheen
and in your death mask face
there are no signs which can be seen
And though I hoped for something to find
I could see no maze to unwind
Conquistador a vulture sits
upon your silver shield
and in your rusty scabbard now
the sand has taken seed
and though your jewel-encrusted blade
has not been plundered still
the sea has washed across your face
and taken of its fill
And though I hoped for something to find
I could see no maze to unwind
Conquistador there is no time
I must pay my respect
and though I came to jeer at you
I leave now with regret
and as the gloom begins to fall
I see there is no, only all
and though you came with sword held high
you did not conquer, only die
And though I hoped for something to find
I could see no maze to unwind
| msymmes (Toronto, CA) | Posted: Apr 28, 2013 - 11:22 Maybe the only good recording to ever come out of Edmonton in the history of recorded music.  |
| Kanuffen (Trelleborg, Sverige) | Posted: Nov 22, 2012 - 23:17 It is kind of enigmatic and ecclectic. The Hammond B3, the brass, the classic rock band vibe....... pretty cool stuff  |
| Grammarcop (Part of the 47% who won't vote for Mitt Romney) | Posted: Oct 22, 2012 - 14:51 Why does this always seem to come on as I am preparing dinner? |
| Boy_Wonder (Bath, back in the UK) | Posted: Oct 22, 2012 - 14:50 8 > 9 |
| lily34 (lexvegas) | Posted: Aug 20, 2012 - 15:04 i love this song! i love that you play it here! |
| zivko (toronto canada) | Posted: Jul 20, 2012 - 04:45 LizK wrote: Which is why I never relied on rock 'n roll for my historical information.  Perhaps the lyrics are to be seen as metaphor.......The noble Christian ideals of the conquistadors were tarnished upon contact with the indiginous people.....I will give Procol Harum the benefit of the doubt concerning their knowledge of history.. |
| zivko (toronto canada) | Posted: Jul 20, 2012 - 04:40 LizK wrote: Which is why I never relied on rock 'n roll for my historical information. Maybe the lyrics are ment to be seen as metaphor..... Their noble Christian ideals died with contact .... |
| haresfur (Bendigo Australia) | Posted: Apr 16, 2012 - 18:20 AndyJ wrote: There was a very lovely young lady I met in Edmonton. T.O. Le Bon always much colder to me... Music filled the miles and spiced the memories... She is much more a Melissa Etheridge/Brave and Crazy, memory than Procol Harum... And then we went to Regina and Winnipeg... on into the winter... There is a lot of winter on those plains... In small amounts it's romantic and pretty. In large doses it gets old fast... Brave people inhabit those places... and crazy too Yes it gets old, but there is something wonderful in heading home from listening to a pub-band with your ears still ringing looking up at the ice halo ringing the moon. Air so crisp your face doesn't feel cold - just painful and your nostrils stick together a little with each breath. Snow squeaking under your feet with each step as you walk backwards to keep the wind from freezing your face. I never thought there was anything strange about walking around backwards until I left. Do I miss it? Yes. Do I want to go back? Well, ummm..... |
| Grammarcop (Upriver from Zug Island) | Posted: Mar 15, 2012 - 11:46 Can't wait for Kid Rock to perform this with the Detroit Symphony. (He said with tongue planted firmly in cheek.) |
| AndyJ (Oregon) | Posted: Mar 15, 2012 - 11:44 msymmes wrote: The only good thing ever to come out of Edmonton...? This recording. There was a very lovely young lady I met in Edmonton. T.O. Le Bon always much colder to me... Music filled the miles and spiced the memories... She is much more a Melissa Etheridge/Brave and Crazy, memory than Procol Harum... And then we went to Regina and Winnipeg... on into the winter... There is a lot of winter on those plains... In small amounts it's romantic and pretty. In large doses it gets old fast... Brave people inhabit those places... and crazy too |
| LizK (Houston, Texas) | Posted: Mar 15, 2012 - 11:43 Hasan wrote: I did the whole Canadian sixties suburban basement weekend hippy loser escapist trip listening to Procol Harum among other groups. Conquistador was one of the songs that sent me dreaming of exotic foreign lands. Now, having lived in South America for 20 years I know what the conquistadores were really all about. Excuse me but the lyrics are simply asinine clueless drivel. (and the pronunciation is con-kee-sta-dor, not con-kwis-ta-dor, doh!) "... and though you came with sword held, you did not conquer only die." For pity sake! At Cajamarca, Pizarro and a cohort of around 200 massacred thousands in an afternoon with almost no casualties themselves. At 5% interest the gold Pizarro "borrowed" from the Inca would today be equal in mass to the Martian moon Deimos !!! Meanwhile, the conquistador's slaves rarely survived their first month in the silver mines. I like the music, more or less, but even 40 years ago I knew the lyrics and the music had nothing to do with each other. Now? They remind me too awkwardly of the self-important vacuity of those years. Which is why I never relied on rock 'n roll for my historical information. |
| msymmes (Toronto, CA) | Posted: Mar 15, 2012 - 11:37 The only good thing ever to come out of Edmonton...? This recording. |
| Hasan | Posted: Feb 12, 2012 - 17:44 I did the whole Canadian sixties suburban basement weekend hippy loser escapist trip listening to Procol Harum among other groups. Conquistador was one of the songs that sent me dreaming of exotic foreign lands. Now, having lived in South America for 20 years I know what the conquistadores were really all about. Excuse me but the lyrics are simply asinine clueless drivel. (and the pronunciation is con-kee-sta-dor, not con-kwis-ta-dor, doh!) "... and though you came with sword held, you did not conquer only die." For pity sake! At Cajamarca, Pizarro and a cohort of around 200 massacred thousands in an afternoon with almost no casualties themselves. At 5% interest the gold Pizarro "borrowed" from the Inca would today be equal in mass to the Martian moon Deimos !!! Meanwhile, the conquistador's slaves rarely survived their first month in the silver mines. I like the music, more or less, but even 40 years ago I knew the lyrics and the music had nothing to do with each other. Now? They remind me too awkwardly of the self-important vacuity of those years. |
| Grammarcop (Upriver from Zug Island) | Posted: Feb 12, 2012 - 17:10 And the crowd in Edmonton applauds politely as they wait for the puck to drop. |
| Stratocaster (Bermuda) | Posted: Feb 02, 2012 - 02:39 Recorded live with (of all places...) The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. "Procol Harum Live In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra" was Procol Harum's best selling album. http://www.edmontonsymphony.com/about/recordings/procol-harum-live-with-the-edmonton-symphony-orchestra/ |
| d16rr702 (Manila, Philippines) | Posted: Oct 08, 2011 - 21:52 Love the start and some of the details throughout.....but the package just doesn't flow to my liking. |
| zivko (toronto canada) | Posted: Sep 07, 2011 - 11:48 More Procol Harum please |
| Cynaera (Kenneth's Frequency) | Posted: Jul 30, 2011 - 16:07 Zoonhollis wrote: Want another good PH tune? "Power Failure" ...and Leo Kottke's version is very good as well Didn't Leo Kottke write "Power Failure"? It's the only version I've ever heard of that song, and I love it! And this one just sends shivers of happy down my spine... It's such a STORY song, and the music is rather awesome.... I've always liked it, and it led me to Robin Trower's "Bridge of Sighs," and then Jeff Beck's "Wired," and then.... I sort of abandoned mainstream radio once this happened, and I swan-dived into the dark basement of FM, where Frank Zappa, Iggy Pop, the New York Dolls, and a passel of other bands proudly strutted their music. *sigh* I miss those days. Thank you, RadioParadise, for bringing those memories back and for creating new ones... |
| NatureDeficit (Virginia) | Posted: Jul 30, 2011 - 16:00 oh please... don't stop |
| Businessgypsy (Deepest, Darkest Florida) | Posted: May 28, 2011 - 14:29 Proclivities wrote: I was under the impression that Lothar & The Hand People were Paul's favorite band. Good tune, btw. Well, they did share the same label for a while. |
| Proclivities (Carrboro, NC) | Posted: May 04, 2011 - 12:31 ThePoose wrote: Many years ago, Paul, before he was knighted, was asked for the name of his favourite group (not including the Beatles). His answer? Procol Harum. Then he was asked for the name of his favourite singer. Procul Harum again. I was under the impression that Lothar & The Hand People were Paul's favorite band. Good tune, btw. |
| oldsinger (Wexford, PA) | Posted: May 04, 2011 - 12:31 I always liked this because it was with an orchestra. I would have loved playing rock with an orchestra backup. |
| 4merdj (donde el viento se devuelve) | Posted: Mar 02, 2011 - 09:36 One of the best rock groups of all times! ... pure quality!  This is one of my favourite songs (note the spelling  ) from them!  |
| gjones | Posted: Mar 02, 2011 - 09:36 Nope never liked this one |
| HazzeSwede (Vinyl Land) | Posted: Jan 30, 2011 - 02:25 ThePoose wrote: Many years ago, Paul, before he was knighted, was asked for the name of his favourite group (not including the Beatles). His answer? Procol Harum. Then he was asked for the name of his favourite singer. Procul Harum again. Gary Brooker. |
| ThePoose | Posted: Oct 27, 2010 - 09:55 Many years ago, Paul, before he was knighted, was asked for the name of his favourite group (not including the Beatles). His answer? Procol Harum. Then he was asked for the name of his favourite singer. Procul Harum again. |
| Zoonhollis | Posted: Jul 23, 2010 - 18:06 Want another good PH tune? "Power Failure" ...and Leo Kottke's version is very good as well |
| Jazbo (Beautiful Valparaiso IN.) | Posted: Jul 16, 2010 - 07:24 Saw them a couple weeks ago. Stellar...Tight.... no slippage! |
| Cynaera (South of Neanderthal) | Posted: Jun 21, 2010 - 21:15 I've never heard this LIVE before (and you'll see that comment from me a lot!) but I love Procol Harum, no matter what. This version of Conquistador was actually merciful - not drawn out or overly-dramatic, even with the orchestra. I rather like it. And, having said that, I think I just hit the wall, but what better way than to grin to Procol Harum? (Well, "The Rain Song" by Zep would be the absolute perfect sign-off, but since we've already heard that, I have no suggestions.) G'night, RP. Thanks for all the wonderful music. |
| JuliaH | Posted: Jun 14, 2010 - 10:19 I have ALWAYS loved this song. Nice to hear it live. |
| calypsus_1 | Posted: May 25, 2010 - 20:46  Gary Brooker 2006 by ~Kissa21 Pyry Haukkavaara ©2007-2010 ~Kissa21 Gary Brooker ja Procol harum esiintyi vuonna 2006 Järvenpään puistobluessissa . |
| jagdriver (Just a nod and a wink south of Paradise) | Posted: May 13, 2010 - 16:15 inindian wrote: I don't think Robin Trower was underrated, more under-known through not playing particularly commercial music. Most people I know who know him at all think he's fantastic. He is fantastic! When it became more and more apparent that PH was a keyboard-oriented band, he wisely struck out on his own. |
| Shaker (Canada) | Posted: Apr 19, 2010 - 07:22 Like your spin on how the collaboration may of helped the symphony out financially. Clever. nagsheadlocal wrote: Ah, I remember the controversy over the Edmonton Symphony taking part in this - the symphony was criticized for taking part in "low brow" activities. My take was that it was a great record, and I'm sure the money helped keep the doors open at the symphony hall in the days of low or non-existent financial support. |
| Shaker (Canada) | Posted: Apr 19, 2010 - 07:19  Would like to hear some more rare tunes by these guys. |
| Bosami (Deep in the heart of nowhere) | Posted: Apr 19, 2010 - 07:16 Stellar. >10 |
| nagsheadlocal (North Carolina, the new New Jersey) | Posted: Mar 11, 2010 - 06:48 Ah, I remember the controversy over the Edmonton Symphony taking part in this - the symphony was criticized for taking part in "low brow" activities. My take was that it was a great record, and I'm sure the money helped keep the doors open at the symphony hall in the days of low or non-existent financial support. |
| WayUpNorth (Windswept Exile) | Posted: Mar 11, 2010 - 06:46 Flashback to elementary school, learning about the Spanish conquest of Mexico. Thought it was so cool to hear this song, brought my classwork to life!  |
| HazzeSwede (Vinyl Land) | Posted: Feb 15, 2010 - 02:59  ,,strikes my heart every time ! |
| No_Where_Man | Posted: Dec 06, 2009 - 22:55 Classic !!! |
| NatureDeficit (Virginia) | Posted: Nov 05, 2009 - 13:37 lovin it |
| sherf (OCNY) | Posted: Oct 05, 2009 - 00:19 much better tension in this version |
| boober (KC,Mo) | Posted: Sep 03, 2009 - 12:20 This is the worst song from one of my favorite groups. Play "A Salty Dog" instead. |
| socalhol (Carlsbad CA) | Posted: Sep 03, 2009 - 12:18 I was just thinking the horns are the ONE redeeming part of this track! Reminds me of Cake or Calexico or a Spaghetti Western..... Hannio wrote: Great song except for the horns. I understand they are used to invoke the trumpet calls of military charges as well as giving the song an Iberian aura. I just don't like brass in my rock and roll. |
| SparkyMarky (Karlsruhe, Germany) | Posted: Sep 03, 2009 - 12:15 Part of the problem here - hence the adverse comments - is that the studio version is SOO much beter than this live version, which is at the wrong pace, and sounds a bit rubbish by comparison. In it's original, it's a lovely song |
| crockydile (I miss Excelsior!) | Posted: Sep 03, 2009 - 12:13 hasben wrote: a wider shade of stale  |
| Shesdifferent (Just visiting this planet this is not my home) | Posted: Aug 10, 2009 - 08:32 I wasn't going to comment, but I think RP can take this one off the playlist |
| HazzeSwede (Vinyl Land) | Posted: Aug 10, 2009 - 08:28 One way of telling one none music-lover is looking for the ones rating this song less then a 10 !  |
| hasben (The Middle Path) | Posted: Aug 10, 2009 - 08:26 a wider shade of stale |
| Frater_Kork (Uppsala, Sweden) | Posted: Jul 02, 2009 - 05:47 Fooboy wrote: this song sucks donkey-balls ... please never, ever play it again.... please, please, never....... This song is the dogs bollocks ... please play it over and over again! |
| Fooboy (Vancouver, BC, Canada) | Posted: Jun 07, 2009 - 21:46 this song sucks donkey-balls ... please never, ever play it again.... please, please, never....... |