The Obvious Child - Live at Central Park, New York, NY - August 15, 1991

In this song, an intriguing phrase is repeated: "The cross is in the ballpark." When asked of its meaning, Simon answered, "The cross, the burden that we carry, is in the ballpark, it's doable."

Following the success of 1986's Graceland, on which he worked principally with South African musicians, Simon turned to Latin America for much of The Rhythm of the Saints. The drums for this song were recorded live at Pelourinho Square in the Brazilian city of Salvador. They were played by the Afro-Brazilian group Grupo Cultural Olodum, who are masters of the heavily percussive sub-style of samba called Batuque. Simon recalled to Mojo magazine July 2011: "One day we were driving through the old part of Salvador in Bahia when we heard this incredible drumming coming from Pelouinho Square. It was the group Olodum practising outside and (Simon's percussionist) Mazzola asked if we could record them. We did it in their back yard, just rented a couple of 8-tracks, and that was our backing-track for 'The Obvious Child.'"