The Boxer (with Jerry Douglas) Songtext
von Paul Simon

I wanna welcome Gibson Jerry Douglas to join me on this song

A poor boy, his story′s seldom told
Squandered his resistance
For a pocketful of mumbles, such are promises

All lies and jest
Still, a man hears what he wants to hear
Disregards the rest, mmm

When I left my home and my family
I was no more than a boy
In the company of strangers
In the quiet of a 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-la-la-lie
(Lie-la-lie)
(Lie-la-la-la-la-la-la-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
That there were times when I was so lonesome
I took some comfort there
Ooh-la-la-la-la-la-la

Lie-la-lie
Lie-la-la-la-la-la-lie
Lie-la-lie
Lie-la-la-la-la-lie
Lie-la-lie
Lie-la-la-la-la-la-lie
Lie-la-lie
Lie-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-lie
Mmm

Then I′m laying out my winter clothes
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
A fighter by his trade
And he carries the remainders
Of every glove that laid him down
And cut him 'til he cried out
In his anger and his shame
"Well, I am leaving, I am leaving"
But the fighter still remains
And he still remains

Lie-la-lie
Lie-la-la-la-la-la-lie
Lie-la-lie
Lie-la-la-la-la-la-lie
Lie-la-lie
Lie-la-la-la-la-la-lie
Lie-la-lie
Lie-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-lie

Lie-la-lie
Lie-la-la-la-la-la-lie
Lie-la-lie
Lie-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-lie

We have a lot of friends out here tonight
A lot of friends out there
No, I was reffering to a few people over here