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From: macon@gallifry.Berkeley.EDU (Glen Macon)
079
Title: THE BOXER (Simon)
C Am
I am just a poor boy though my story's seldom told
G
I have squandered my resistance
G7 G6 C
For a pocket full of mumbles, such are promises
Am G F
All lies and jest, still a man hears what he wants to hear
C G G7 G6 C
And disregards the rest
C Am
When I left my home and my family, I was no more than a boy
G
In the company of strangers
G7 G6 C
In the quiet of a railway station, running scared
Am G F
Laying low, seeking out the poorer quarters
C
Where the ragged people go
G G7 G6 C
Looking for the places only they would know
Am G Am G F C
Lie la lie Lie la lie Lie la lie Lie la lie Lie la lie
C Am
Asking only workman's wages I come looking for a job
G
But I get no offers
G7 G6 C
Just a come-on from the whores on Seventh Avenue
Am G F
I do declare, there were times when I was so lonesome
C
I took some comfort there
G G7 G6 C
Lie lie lie lie la
Then I'm laying out my winter clothes and wishing I was gone
Going home where the New York City winters aren't bleeding me
Leading me, going home.
In the clearing stands a boxer and a fighter by his trade
And he carries a reminder ov ev'ry glove that laid him down
Or cut him till he cried out in his anger and his shame
I am leaving, I am leaving
But the fighter still remains
Lie la lie ... etc.
From: RJBRANCH@argo.acs.oakland.edu
Date: Mon, 11 Sep 1995 04:03 EST
Subject: BOXER.CRD
The Boxer
by Paul Simon from the Album "Bridge Over Troubled Waters"
C Am
I am just a poor boy, though my story's seldom told
G
I have squandered my resistance
C
For a pocketful of mumbles such are promises
Am G F
All lies and jest still a man hears what he wants to hear
C G C
And disregards the rest
Am
When I left my home and family I was no more than a boy
G
In the company of strangers
Dm7 C
In the quiet of a railway station running scared
Am G F
Laying low seeking out the poorer quarters where the ragged people go
G F Em Dm C
Looking for the places only they would know
Am
Lie-la-lie
G
Lie-la-lie la lie-la-lie
Am
Lie la lie
G F G C
Lie-la-lie la la la la lie la la la la lie
Am
Asking only workmans wages I come looking for a job
G
But I get no offers
Dm7 C
Just a come-on from the whores on seventh avenue
Am Dm7 G F C
I do declare there were times when I was so lonesome I took some comfort there
G C
Ooo-la-la la la la la
Am
Lie-la-lie
G
Lie-la-lie la lie-la-lie
Am
Lie la lie
G F G C
Lie-la-lie la la la la lie la la la la lie
C
Then I'm laying out my winter clothes
G7 C Am
And wishing I was gone
G Dm7 G7 G C
Going home where the New York City winters aren't bleeding me
Am
Leading me
G
Going Home
C Am
In the clearing stands a boxer and a fighter by his trade
G
And he carries the reminders
G7 C Dm7 G7 C
Of ev'ry glove that laid him down or cut him 'till he cried out
Am
In his anger and his shame
G F C
"I am Leaving, I am Leaving." But the Fighter still remains
G C G F C
Am
Lie-la-lie
G
Lie-la-lie la lie-la-lie
Am
Lie la lie
G F Am
Lie-la-lie la la la la lie la la la la lie
Repeat & Fade
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Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques
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David Average |
#1 by David Gilmour at Jul 2, 1970 at 4:22 PM EST |
| The last few lines seem to represent "the boxer' losing his mind or his intellect, perhaps after too many fighting injuries... it's as if the boxer's sanity is trickling away, but the fighting instincts still persist.. It's almost like his reasoning is seceding. Funny how it just pops in at the end of the song, like an afterthought, but without too much actual thought put into it... Something I've noted in this song anyway. to me it doesn't fit in with the rest of the lyrics, so I thought of what else it could mean. | |
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Jaime Average |
#2 by Jaime at Sep 18, 1970 at 11:05 AM EST |
| it reminds me of the prodigal son in the bible | |
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Rodney Wanna Be |
#3 by Rodney at Mar 6, 1971 at 8:03 PM EST |
| This song might be about the Prodigal Son in the Bible, but I think there are probably a lot of correlations to the narrator, or probably Paul Simon himself, going out on his own as a young man. My favorite part is the following: 'When I left my home and my family I was no more than a boy in the company of strangers in the quiet of the railway station running scared.' That, to me, conjures up an image of a young person who moves to the big city (NYC) to embark on his dream. He gets homesick but that's the sacrifice he made to go after what he believed in. | |
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Crystal Average |
#4 by Crystal at Aug 8, 1971 at 6:26 AM EST |
| I agree. This song is very much similar to the story of the Prodigal Son in the bible. For those of you who aren't familiar with that story, I'll post a bit of it here. There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father! From reading this, you can see how the "Boxer" and the son parallel each other. The Boxer leaves home, as does the son, only to find that they long for the home they willingly gave up. | |
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Jason Rhythm Player |
#5 by Jason ...... at Sep 3, 1978 at 6:26 PM EST |
| I`m not quite sure, but I`ve always thought this song was about immigration to the US. I couldn`t get it out of my head when i was walking around Ellis Island, NY. In this way, it is about perseverance to. | |
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Average |
#6 by Riqu - at Nov 18, 1978 at 1:56 AM EST |
| " till he cried out In his anger and his shame, "I am leaving, I am leaving." But the fighter still remains" In high school we had to bring in the lyrics of a song to english class. I brought this song. I've always wondered if Paul Simon intentionally used the word "fighter" in this line. Because to me, it's perfect. Like the late rounds of a boxing match when there is no "sweet science" left, a boxer becomes a fighter, running on instinct and guts. Anything to survive. | |
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Brennan Wanna Be |
#7 by Brennan unknown at Jan 7, 1979 at 1:50 AM EST |
| this song's so great. there's just, so much power and feeling in it all - the lyrics, the music, everything. | |
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jordan Average |
#8 by jordan mcm at Aug 28, 1980 at 11:38 AM EST |
| THIS SONG REMAINS AS ONE OF MY FAVORITES BY THE DUO. WHAT A GREAT SONG ABOUT WORKING THROUGH ALL THE SHIT IN LIFE. IT'S INSIRATIONAL YET CARRYS A LOW-KEY SOMEWHAT DEPRESSNG MELODY. THIS, I THINK ADDS TO ITS IMPACT. | |
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Dr. Average |
#9 by Dr. Funkinstein at May 25, 1987 at 11:33 AM EST |
| This song got me through alot of hard times being on my own. in a way i felt like the prodigal son like simon, thats why this song is easily relatable. a million miles from home it seemed, i felt like i fell off of the face of the earth. and i new simon was right there with me. it gave me hope cause simon turned out fine eventually... haha i knew that struggle made you who you are, and this song joined me for the ride. especially driving home at 3am on saturday nights | |
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Thomas Average |
#10 by Thomas Buckman at Sep 11, 1987 at 12:14 AM EST |
| I agree with that. ^^ They made a bunch of songs about immigration. | |
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I fought the la Average |
#11 by I fought the law and the law kicked my ass I never learn do i...?? at Nov 25, 1987 at 12:18 AM EST |
| this is a beautiful song that i can personally identify with in matters of love, school and sports, among other things. the last few lines are my favorite "And he carries the reminders Of ev'ry glove that laid him down". we all carry scars and pains that sometimes hurt so bad that we want to quit, just want to scream out "i`m done, i quit!" but the beautiful thing is that those who can fight through that are able to ultimately succeed. been there so many times... | |
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Daniel Average |
#12 by Daniel Rainbolt at Aug 23, 1988 at 8:03 PM EST |
| 7th Ave...yup | |
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David Average |
#13 by David Turner at Nov 30, 1988 at 3:06 AM EST |
| " till he cried out In his anger and his shame, "I am leaving, I am leaving." But the fighter still remains" That's all i have to say about this song, it's amazing. I love Bob Dylan because he writes great lyrics, but I like Simon and Garfunkel because Paul Simon writes and sings beautiful music and the way these two boys sang is just, damn good. | |
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Kazza Average |
#14 by Kazza at Nov 24, 1989 at 4:00 AM EST |
| this song carry's so much... anger, sadness, frustration, lonliness, fear, regret, and strength. It's a great fight song about pulling through when everything's against you. | |
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Cory Wanna Be |
#15 by Cory at Mar 4, 1990 at 2:01 AM EST |
| Definetly a beautiful and far out song sebastianquilt has an interesting idea on what this song is about. i always thought it was about a drifter | |
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Matthew Average |
#16 by Matthew Spencer at Dec 7, 1990 at 9:47 PM EST |
| I've heard this verse added a few times, I guess it would be the 4th verse: Now the years are rolling by me, they are rocking evenly. I am older than I once was, but younger than I'll be. That's not unusual. No, it isn't strange, After changes upon changes, we are more or less the same. After changes we are more or less the same. | |
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Lucas Average |
#17 by Lucas Lawrey at Jun 15, 1991 at 12:11 AM EST |
| I think the inspiration for this came from films such as "On the Waterfront" about a boxer who didn't make it for various reasons. I myself relate it to the film "Raging Bull" which is based on the life of Jake La Motta. He could have been great, and he blamed others for his failure but at the end of the film he realises that was his fault and nobody elses. | |
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camilo Average |
#18 by camilo velasquez at Oct 15, 1991 at 8:20 AM EST |
| I can remember when SNL came back for the first time after the september 11th attacks. Paul Simon opened the show with this song. I asked my girlfriend if she wouldn't prefer to hear "America" instead. But she said no, the boxer was the right mood for us. We needed courage and strength, even though we had been beaten down. Upon reflection, I think she was right. | |
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Jon Wanna Be |
#19 by Jon Leff at Feb 3, 1995 at 2:37 PM EST |
| The melody of the instrumental break was Art Garfunkel's idea. Paul Simon liked it so much that he used it on the record in favour of an extra verse he had written and occasionally sings live. The solo is played by a pedal steel guitar and a piccolo trumpet in unison, giving a Moog-like effect. Also, note a clumsy tape edit four bars from the end of the song. | |
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♥WeEzY Average |
#20 by ♥WeEzY♥ at Apr 29, 1995 at 1:08 PM EST |
| gotta love this song...one of my favorites. It's all about hardships that come and go in this life and keeping strong. It's so powerfull. | |
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james Rhythm Player |
#21 by james dobson at Feb 12, 1997 at 11:11 AM EST |
| I love this song, my favorite part is "In the clearing stands a boxer, And a fighter by his trade And he carries the reminders Of ev'ry glove that laid him down Or cut him till he cried out In his anger and his shame, 'I am leaving, I am leaving.' But the fighter still remains " Great song one ov my favs | |
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Neal Average |
#22 by Neal Breen at Dec 2, 1998 at 11:37 PM EST |
| I think sebastianquilt has it right. It IS about determination. The fighter is the part of you that doesn't give up on life, even when you're so alone, jobless, and the only love you can find is from the 7th street whores. Life is kicking you around, but you can't change who you are inside, you're a fighter and quitting just isn't part of your psyche. Also, thanks for posting the 4th verse, that seems to confirm it; situations change but inside our true nature doesn't (the fighter still remains). | |
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Justice Wanna Be |
#23 by Justice Fish at Jun 11, 1999 at 10:25 PM EST |
| I really like those lines too:) | |
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chOxY Rhythm Player |
#24 by chOxY at Aug 5, 2002 at 6:52 AM EST |
| Actually this song came to Paul as he was on a plane and looking through the bible and saw "workman's wages" and he immediatly started writing and was in a time of depression at the time. Its ALL ABOUT PAUL!!! AS a young man in England, and New York, the boxer is a metaphor for his perserverance.! READ THE WORDS AGAIN. And I think Paul Simon has litttle over Bob Dylan. He's a bit more direct and doesnt stray the meaning for no reason like Dylan does with Mr Tambourine Man or something. He wont even say waht its about! REspect for Dylan though, still one of the best, but I personally think Paul is better. | |
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caleb Wanna Be |
#25 by caleb at Mar 25, 2005 at 5:45 PM EST |
| I have squandered my resistance For a pocketful of mumbles, Such are promises. Beautiful!! | |
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