The Boxer
Paul Simon
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I am just a poor boy though my story's seldom told I have squandered my resistance for a pocketful of mumbles, Such are promises, all lies and jest, Still a man hears what he wants to hear And disregards the rest, hmmm When I left my home and my family, I's no more than a boy In the company of strangers In the quiet of the railway station, runnin' scared, laying low, Seeking out the poorer quarters, where the ragged people go, Looking for the places only they would know. Li la li Asking only workman's wages, I come lookin' for a job, But I get no offers, Just a come-on from the whores on 7th Avenue. I do declare, there were times when I was so lonesome I took some comfort there. La la la Li la li And I'm laying out my winter clothes and wishing I was gone, Goin' home Where the New York City winters aren't bleedin' me, leadin' me, Goin' home. In the clearing stands a boxer, and a fighter by his trade And he carries the reminders of every glove that laid him down or cut him 'Til he cried out in his anger and his shame I am leaving, I am leaving, but the fighter still remains. Li la li
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Written by: Paul Simon
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
CREATION AND RELEASE"The Boxer" was written by Paul Simon in 1968 and first appeared on Simon & Garfunkel's fifth studio album, "Bridge Over Troubled Water," released in 1970.
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INSPIRATIONThe song was inspired by the Bible's story of Job and also reflected Simon's own feelings of loneliness and isolation during a time of personal struggle.
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LYRICSPaul Simon's lyrics are autobiographical, detailing his early years as a struggling artist in New York City and his feelings of alienation.
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SUCCESS"The Boxer" was a commercial success, reaching number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and number six in the UK Singles Chart.
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PRODUCTIONThe song is renowned for its distinctive and innovative recording process, particularly the use of a large reverberation chamber to create a haunting, echo-like sound. Halfway through the song, a drum sound "BOOM" is heard that was recorded in a hallway at Columbia Records in Nashville.
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ACOUSTIC GUITARThe song features a solo acoustic guitar played by Fred Carter, Jr., creating its iconic finger-picking style.
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COVER VERSIONSOver the years, numerous other artists have covered "The Boxer," including Emmylou Harris, Bob Dylan, and Mumford & Sons, demonstrating its enduring popularity and musical influence.
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PERFORMANCESimon & Garfunkel performed "The Boxer" at their famous 1981 Concert in Central Park, which drew more than 500,000 music fans.
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LATER YEARSIn later years, Paul Simon often performed "The Boxer" in solo concerts, further cementing it as one of his signature songs.
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HONORS AND AWARDSIn 2004, "The Boxer" was ranked No. 105 in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
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