The Obvious Child

"The Obvious Child"
Single by Paul Simon
from the album The Rhythm of the Saints
Released	September 1990 (1990-09)
Recorded	Various 1990 The Hit Factory, New York City Estúdio Transamérica, Rio de Janeiro Impressao Digital Studios, Vinhedo, Brazil Studio Guillaume Tell, Suresnes, France
Genre	Pop rock worldbeat
Length	4:10
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Paul Simon
Producer(s)	Paul Simon
Paul Simon singles chronology
"Under African Skies" (1987) "The Obvious Child" (1990) "Proof" (1991)

"The Obvious Child" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Paul Simon. It was the lead single from his eighth studio album, The Rhythm of the Saints (1990), released by Warner Bros. Records. Written by Simon, its lyrics explore mortality and aging. The song is accompanied by a performance from Brazilian drumming collective Olodum in a live recording.

The single, released in September 1990, was commercially successful, performing well on charts worldwide. In the United States, it was mainly successful on the Album Rock Tracks chart, where it peaked at number 21. Outside the US, "The Obvious Child" was a top 15 hit in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. The song received highly positive reviews upon its release. Simon promoted the song alongside Olodum in a performance on Saturday Night Live. The song also influenced popular culture; it is the namesake of the 2014 film Obvious Child.