The Boxer
Bob Dylan Lyrics


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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

When I left my home and 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

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

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 every blow that laid him down
And cut him till he cried out
In his anger and his shame




"I am leaving, I am leaving"
But the fighter still remains

Overall Meaning

The first verse of Bob Dylan's The Boxer begins by introducing the singer as a poor boy whose story is seldom told. He reveals that he has squandered his resistance and made compromises for a pocketful of mumbles, meaning empty or meaningless promises. The promises that are made to him are all lies and jest, but he chooses to hear what he wants to hear and disregard the rest, indicating that he's possibly in denial about his current situation.


In the second verse, he talks about leaving his home and family as a young boy and going to the city to find work but ends up dealing with darker things, such as seeking out the poorer quarters and struggling to find work. He experiences loneliness and takes comfort in the company of prostitutes. However, he eventually realizes he needs to go back home, where the bustling city and its challenges won't leave him bleeding and leading him to a figurative death as a person.


The final verse introduces the boxer, who is referred to as a fighter by his trade. The boxer has been beaten down physically and emotionally during his career, and his pain is etched on his body. In his anger and shame, he declares that he is leaving but in reality, he stays and continues to fight. The boxer's character may serve as a metaphor for the singer and the struggles he's gone through. Despite their trials, both the boxer and the singer continue to fight and stay resilient.


Line by Line Meaning

I am just a poor boy
I am a man without wealth or success


Though my story's seldom told
Though I have experienced many things, they are rarely shared


I have squandered my resistance
I have wasted my ability to reject things


For a pocketful of mumbles
I have given up valuable beliefs for empty promises


Such are promises
Many promises are flimsy and empty


All lies and jest
Many promises are deceitful and only meant to amuse you


Still a man hears what he wants to hear
Despite this, people believe what they want to hear


And disregards the rest
And ignore the reality


When I left my home and family
When I left my comfortable life with my loved ones


I was no more than a boy
I was just a young and naive teenager


In the company of strangers
In the presence of unknown men and women


In the quiet of the railway station
In the haunting stillness of the transportation hub


Running scared
Frightened, I ran away from my troubles


Laying low
Hiding myself and keeping a low profile


Seeking out the poorer quarters
I went to where the less fortunate lived


Where the ragged people go
Where the outcasts and misfits dwell


Looking for the places
Searching for locations


Only they would know
Only the downtrodden people knew about them


Asking only workman's wages
I only desired payment suitable for laborers


I come looking for a job
I arrived to search for work to make a living


But I get no offers
Unfortunately, there were no career opportunities for me


Just a come on from the whores
I only received attention from the prostitutes


On Seventh Avenue
On a street notorious for prostitution in New York City


I do declare
I swear to you


There were times when I was so lonesome
There were moments where I felt deeply alone


I took some comfort there
I found some solace and relief with the prostitutes


Then I'm laying out my winter clothes
Now I am sorting out my attire for the cold season


And wishing I was gone
And yearning to leave the city behind


Going home
Returning to my hometown


Where the New York city winters
Where the daunting winters of New York City


Aren't bleeding me
Are not affecting or exploiting me


Leading me
Guiding me to where I belong


In the clearing stands a boxer
In the field is a professional fighter


And a fighter by his trade
This fighter is a master of his craft


And he carries the reminders
He has the memories of his pain and defeat


Of every blow that laid him down
The aftermath of every physical attack he endured


And cut him till he cried out
And injured him deeply, making him scream in pain


In his anger and his shame
His fury and humiliation of being defeated


"I am leaving, I am leaving"
"I am leaving, I want to walk out"


But the fighter still remains
Despite wanting to quit, the fighter goes on because that's who he is




Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Paul Simon

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@HelianaSuper

"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 lie la lie la lie
Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie la lie, la la lie la lie"
Paul Simon is the author this song and it was a big sucess with him and Art Garfunkel.
I loved this performance from my dear Bob too. It seems to me Bob is singing with Paul and Art...
I love this song... Love, love... It remember my youth...



@piyushsingh6363

I'm just a poor boy
Though my story's seldom told
I have squadered my resistance
For a pocketful of numbles
Such are promises, all lies and jest


Still a man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest.

When I left my home and 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.



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.

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 every glove that laid him down
And cut him till he cried out
In his anger and his shame
"I am leaving, I am leaving"
But the fighter still ramains.



All comments from YouTube:

@mikemateiinspectorgadget7830

I have to really applaud Bob. He genuinely released a double album shitpost of him fucking around and having a good time and it not only sold very well but didn’t even damage him in the long run. Most artists can’t expect that

@jandjjandj9893

It's Dylan's "Machine Metal Music". This is the sort of thing a great artist can get away with. Was he serious, or was it a goof? I don't know - maybe both.

@makeadifference4all

It's kind of like "McCartney II"--an eccentric and inscrutable catalog entry of a great musician.

@TheWeis

Okay so everyone hates this track, but it's actually fascinating. Dylan duets with himself, using his "crooner" voice from Nashville Skyline as well as his regular singing voice.

@TheRobotZ

i always thought it was him and johnny cash..

@chromedreamer

Bob Garfunkel & Simon Dylan

@yamapenny5960

@chromedreamer
Hihi, its funnyπŸ‘

@demianstimson1522

I have always loved this. I didn't know people hated it.

@themeisterhuc

This is really good.

6 More Replies...

@yamapenny5960

Bob Dylan is always finding new ways of making Music.πŸ˜€πŸ˜‰

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