Duncan (song)

"Duncan"
Single by Paul Simon
from the album Paul Simon
Released	1973
Format	7" (45 rpm)
Genre	Folk rock, pop
Length	4:34
Label	Columbia Records
Paul Simon singles chronology
"Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" (1972) "Duncan" (1972) "Kodachrome" (1973)

"Duncan" is the second song of Paul Simon's February 1972 album Paul Simon, his first solo endeavor after the dissolution of the duo Simon & Garfunkel.^[1] The song was also released as a single in July 1972 as "Duncan" b/w "Run That Body Down".^[2]

A ballad in E-minor, "Duncan" tells the story of Lincoln Duncan, a fisherman's son. An inability to fall asleep in a cheap motel due to the loud sex that a couple is having next door sends Duncan off on a long reverie. He recalls his decision to leave "the boredom and the chowder" of his hometown in the Canadian maritime provinces and head towards New England. He recalls running out of money, losing his virginity to a young female street preacher – "just like a dog I was befriended" – and finally lying on the ground at night and thanking God for his musical ability.

Between the stanzas, the song features instrumental interludes by Los Incas, an Andean group which had previously collaborated with Simon & Garfunkel on "El Condor Pasa (If I Could)" in 1970.^[3][4]

"Duncan" peaked at #52 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in 1972.^[5][4]

A concert rendition featuring Urubamba performing the interludes was included on the 1974 album Paul Simon in Concert: Live Rhymin'. It gained radio airplay itself, and has gone on to become a semi-regular on satellite radio's Deep Tracks station.^[1] Simon has included the song in his set lists for some subsequent tours as well.

Charts

Chart (1972) Peak Position US Hot 100 Singles Chart 52 Notes ^ a b Fitzhugh, Bill. "All Hand-Mixed Vinyl, segment 72". Deep Tracks (XM 40). http://www.billfitzhugh.com/ahmv_set61_80.html. Retrieved 2009-01-31.  ^ Strong, Martin C. (2006). The Essential Rock Discography, 8th edition. Open City Books. p. 967. ISBN 1-84195-860-3.  ^ Bennighof, James (2007). The Words and Music of Paul Simon. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 53. ISBN 0-275-99163-6.  ^ a b Jackson, Laura (2004). Paul Simon: The Definitive Biography. Citadel Press. pp. 138, 142. ISBN 0-8065-2539-8.  ^ "Paul Simon > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r18020. Retrieved 2009-01-31.