The Boxer

Simon & Garfunkel

About The Boxer

"The Boxer" is a song recorded by the American music duo Simon & Garfunkel from their fifth studio album, Bridge over Troubled Water (1970). Produced by the duo and Roy Halee, it was released as the lead single from the album on March 21, 1969. The song, written by Paul Simon, is a folk rock ballad that variously takes the form of a first-person lament as well as a third-person sketch of a boxer. The lyrics are largely autobiographical and partially inspired by the Bible, and were written during a time when Simon felt he was being unfairly criticized. The song's lyrics discuss poverty and loneliness. It is particularly known for its plaintive refrain, in which they sing 'lie-la-lie', accompanied by a heavily reverbed snare drum. "The Boxer" was the follow-up to one of the duo's most successful singles, "Mrs. Robinson". It peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. It performed well internationally, charting within the Top 10 in nine countries, peaking highest in the Netherlands, Austria, South Africa, and Canada. Rolling Stone ranked the song No. 106 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. 


Year:
2002
5:08
900 
#4

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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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Simon & Garfunkel

Simon & Garfunkel were an American music duo consisting of singer-songwriters Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. They formed the group Tom & Jerry in 1957 and had their first success with the minor hit "Hey, Schoolgirl". As Simon & Garfunkel, the duo rose to fame in 1965, largely on the strength of the hit single "The Sound of Silence". Their music was featured in the landmark film The Graduate (1967), propelling them further into the public consciousness. more »

40 fans

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.
INSPIRATION
The 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.
LYRICS
Paul Simon's lyrics are autobiographical, detailing his early years as a struggling artist in New York City and his feelings of alienation.
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.
PRODUCTION
The 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.
ACOUSTIC GUITAR
The song features a solo acoustic guitar played by Fred Carter, Jr., creating its iconic finger-picking style.
COVER VERSIONS
Over the years, numerous other artists have covered "The Boxer," including Emmylou Harris, Bob Dylan, and Mumford & Sons, demonstrating its enduring popularity and musical influence.
PERFORMANCE
Simon & Garfunkel performed "The Boxer" at their famous 1981 Concert in Central Park, which drew more than 500,000 music fans.
LATER YEARS
In later years, Paul Simon often performed "The Boxer" in solo concerts, further cementing it as one of his signature songs.
HONORS AND AWARDS
In 2004, "The Boxer" was ranked No. 105 in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

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    The Boxer

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1969

    Billboard #7


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