Written by Gary Brooker and Keith Reid, it originally appeared on the band's 1967 self-titled debut album.

He explained that Brooker had written a piece of Spanish-flavored music before the band had officially formed, and Reid decided to write lyrics about a conquistador.

Procol Harum's equipment was hung up at the border; as a result the band and the orchestra only rehearsed "Conquistador" once ("All songs now played at least once.

The refrain consists of the morose couplet: And though I hoped for something to find I could see no maze to unwind with which the selection closes just before its instrumental trumpet coda, which gives it a mariachi-esque but mournful sound.

'"[6] Bruce Eder of AllMusic praised it as "the most accessible song" on Procol Harum Live In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, adding that "nothing else [on the album] matches it for sheer, bracing excitement.