The boxer
Simon And Garfunkel (The Definitive Simon And Garfunkel) Lyrics
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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
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
The Boxer is a melancholic song by Simon and Garfunkel that narrates the struggles of a young man who has left his home and is trying to make a living in a foreign land. He is poor and alone, and despite his efforts to find work, he has to settle for the company of prostitutes. The song is a commentary on the human condition - it highlights our tendency to ignore the negative aspects of life and focus on what we want to hear. The line, "Still a man hears what he wants to hear, and disregards the rest," is a poignant reminder of our selective perception and the pitfalls that come with it.
The song's protagonist is a boxer who has been beaten down both physically and emotionally. He carries the scars of his defeats, but despite his desire to move on, he cannot help but stay in the game. The repetition of the refrain, "Lie la lie," serves as a cry of desperation and resignation, emphasizing the painful reality that sometimes, despite our best efforts, we cannot escape our circumstances. The song ends on a note of ambiguity, with the boxer declaring his intention to leave, but his resolve is weak, and he knows that he will probably stay in the fight.
Interestingly, The Boxer was one of Simon and Garfunkel's most popular songs, and it has been covered by numerous artists over the years. It is known for its distinctive guitar riff and the memorable chorus, which has become an iconic part of American popular culture. The song's melancholic tone and reflective lyrics have also made it a go-to choice for filmmakers and TV producers, and it has appeared in a wide variety of movies and TV shows. The Boxer is a timeless classic, a testament to the enduring power of Simon and Garfunkel's music.
Line by Line Meaning
I am just a poor boy
I am not wealthy
Though my story's seldom told
My life experiences are not often shared
I have squandered my resistance
I have given up my strength
For a pocket full of mumbles, such are promises
I have exchanged my potential for empty words
All lies and jests
The promises I accepted were false and trivial
Still a man hears what he wants to hear
Despite the deceptions, people believe what they desire
And disregards the rest
They ignore the truth
When I left my home and my family
As I departed from my upbringing and loved ones
I was no more than a boy
I was very young
In the company of strangers
I was surrounded by unfamiliar people
In the quiet of the railway station
I found myself in a serene train depot
Running scared,
Fleeing with fear
Laying low, seeking out the poorer quarters
Hiding and searching for impoverished areas
Where the ragged people go
Where the destitute individuals live
Looking for the places
Hunting for locations
Only they would know
That only the poor know
Asking only workman's wages
Accepting modest pay
I come looking for a job
In search of employment
But I get no offers
Despite looking, I receive no job opportunities
Just a come-on from the whores
Only receiving flirtatious attention from prostitutes
On Seventh Avenue
Along the busy street of Seventh Avenue
I do declare
I must state
There were times when I was so lonesome
There were moments of deep loneliness
I took some comfort there, le le le le le le le
I found solace in those interactions
Then I'm laying out my winter clothes
Preparing for the cold season
And wishing I was gone
Desiring to depart
Going home
Returning to my origin
Where the New York City winters
To where the New York winters
Aren't bleeding me
Are not draining me
Leading me
Guiding me
Going home
Returning to my origin
In the clearing stands a boxer
There stands a fighter in the open space
And a fighter by his trade
Who is a professional fighter
And he carries the reminders
Who remembers
Of ev'ry glove that laid him down
Every time he was knocked down by an opponent
Or cut him till he cried out
Or was injured by a cut that pained him
In his anger and his shame
When he was angry and humiliated
"I am leaving, I am leaving"
Proclaiming his departure
But the fighter still remains, mmm mmm
However, the fighter still perseveres
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PAUL SIMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kumar107
"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"
Just one of the great lyrical passages ever.
@ChannelJeffrey
i am old. I am at the end of my life now..Wow, what a ride. This song just reminds me of how much time has passed and how quickly it goes. If you are young, Im not preaching and your life is yours to live as you choose, but trust me--The days are long but the years are short.
@novocanal7153
His words made me cry.
@bazmanoid5371
I feel that. I have blinked and am nearly 40. The time does go by so fast.
God bless You in Jesus mighty name.
@neymaalnajmah2436
@@novocanal7153😢
@PienderZ
I Hope you had the time of your live and that there will be lots if years of Joy for you ❤
@NebMunb
Well put. How old are you if I may ask? I hope you're not suffering from anything serious. My Grandfather is 95, and he recently was told he has a good year left in him. He has lived a great life. A wife of 75 years, 6 grandkids, 1 great grandson, and he has been to pretty much every country in the world. He's a good man, and I'm going to miss him so much when he is gone.
@DavidCurryFilms
"Still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest." Ain't that the truth 😂
@KathieRopele74
absolutely the truth.
@KurtHansonIan
Depending on context because everytime, at the moment, which of the two participants in actuality knows "the truth." The victor only will speak of "a truth." The vanquished are quelled for a time, 'tis all.
Onward …! 🍺 + (💁🏻♀📝) = ⁉
@kilroy1964
Yup it's called confirmation bias.