The Boxer
Written by Paul Simon
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, LIE LA LIE LA LIE, LA LA LIE LA LA LA LA LIE
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
LOOKNG 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 LA LIE
ASKING ONLY WORK MANS’ 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,
LIE LA LIE LA LIE, LA LA LIE LA LA LIE 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, LIE LA LIE LA LIE, LA LA LIE LA LA LA LA LIE
IN THE CLEARING STANDS A BOXER AND A FIGHTER BY HIS TRADE WHERE 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,
LIE LA LIE LA LIE, LA LA LIE LA LA LA LE LIE
LIE LA LIE, LIE LA LIE LIE LA LA LIE
LIE LA LIE, LIE LA LIE LIE LIE LA LA LA LA LIE