Boxer
Simon & Garfunkel
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I am just a poor boy Though my story's seldom told I have squandered my resistance For a pocket full of mumbles, such are promises All lies and jests Still a man hears what he wants to hear And disregards the rest 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, Laying low, seeking out the poorer quarters Where the ragged people go Looking for the places Only they would know Lie la lie, lie la la la lie lie Lie la lie, lie la la la la lie la la lie Asking only workman's wages I come looking for a job But I get no offers Just a come-on from the whores On Seventh Avenue I do declare There were times when I was so lonesome I took some comfort there, le le le le le le le Lie la lie, lie la la la lie lie Lie la lie, lie la la la la lie la la lie 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 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, mmm mmm Lie la lie, lie la la la lie lie Lie la lie, lie la la la la lie la la lie Lie la lie, lie la la la lie lie Lie la lie, lie la la la la lie la la lie Lie la lie, lie la la la lie lie Lie la lie, lie la la la la lie la la lie Lie la lie, lie la la la lie lie Lie la lie, lie la la la la lie la la lie Lie la lie, lie la la la lie lie Lie la lie, lie la la la la lie la la lie Lie la lie, lie la la la lie lie Lie la lie, lie la la la la lie la la lie Lie la lie, lie la la la lie lie Lie la lie, lie la la la la lie la la lie Lie la lie, lie la la la lie lie Lie la lie, lie la la la la lie la la lie
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Written by: Paul Simon
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
9 facts about this song
Musical Composition"The Boxer" is a folk rock ballad written by American duo Simon & Garfunkel in 1969. The song is built around an ascending chord progression, with its lyrics offering a symbolic tale of a young man who triumphs over adversity.
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Album InformationThe song was released as a single in March 1969 and later included on the duo's fifth studio album, "Bridge Over Troubled Water".
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Chart Performance"The Boxer" was very successful on the charts, reaching No. 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and peaking at No. 1 on the Top 100 in Canada.
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Song InspirationThe song was written by Paul Simon during a period of professional dissatisfaction and personal instability. It's largely autobiographical, with Simon using the boxer as an analogy for his own struggles in the music industry.
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Recording Process"The Boxer" is noted for its advanced production techniques. It features a unique sonic texture created by layering multiple tracks of acoustic guitar and percussion, as well as a distinctive 'echo chamber effect' in the final chorus.
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Critics ReviewUpon its release, "The Boxer" received widespread critical acclaim, with praise directed at its poignant lyrics and impressive production quality. It continues to be regarded as one of Simon & Garfunkel's greatest songs.
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Cover VersionsThis song has been covered by many musicians including Mumford & Sons, and Emmylou Harris. Bob Dylan also performed a cover on his "Self Portrait" album in 1970.
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Song MeaningThe song chronicles the tale of a poor boy who leaves his home to seek fortune in New York City but remains struggling. The lyrics are heavy in symbolism, with the boxer representing a relentless fighter, becoming synonymous with resilience in the face of adversity.
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Use in Popular CultureThe song is also famous for its inclusion in the 2010 film "Going the Distance", where Drew Barrymore and Justin Long sing it at a karaoke bar.
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Citation
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"Boxer Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 24 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/25839850/Simon+%26+Garfunkel/Boxer>.
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