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The Boxer by Paul Simon
The Boxer
[Verse]
[C]I am just a poor boy though my story's seldom [Am]told
I have [G]squandered my resistance
For a [G7]pocket full of [G6]mumbles, such are [C]promises
All lies and [Am]jest, still a [G]man hears what he [F]wants to hear
And disregards the [C]rest [G] [G7] [G6] [C]
When I [C]left my home and my family, I was no more than a [Am]boy
In the [G]company of strangers
In the [G7]quiet of a [G6]railway station, [C]running scared
Laying [Am]low, seeking [G]out the poorer [F]quarters
Where the ragged people [C]go
Looking [G]for the places [G7]only [F]they would [C]know
[Chorus]
Lie la [Am]lie, Lie la [Em]lie la lie la lie, Lie la [Am]lie,
[G]Lie la lie la la la la, lie [F]la la la la [C]lie.
[Verse]
Asking [C]only workman's wages I come looking for a [Am]job
But I get no [G]offers
Just a [G7]come-on from the [G6]whores on Seventh [C]Avenue
I do de[Am]clare, there were [G]times when I was [F]so lonesome
I took some comfort [C]there
[G]Lie lie lie lie la [F] [F] [C]
Then I'm [C]laying out my winter clothes and wishing I was [Am]gone
Going[G]home where the[G7]New York City winters[G6]aren't [C]bleeding me [Em]
Leading [Am]me, to going [G]home [G7] [C]
In the [C]clearing stands a boxer and a fighter by his [Am]trade
And he [G]carries a reminder of ev'ry [G7]glove that laid him down
Or [C]cut him till he cried out in his anger and his [Am]shame
I Am [G]leaving, I Am [F]leaving
But the fighter still re[C]mains mmm[G]mm mmmm [G7] [C]
[Chorus]
Lie la [Am]lie, Lie la [Em]lie la lie la lie, Lie la [Am]lie,
[G]Lie la lie la la la la, lie [F]la la la la [C]lie.
------------------
version 2
TUNE ALL STRINGS DOWN A HALF-STEP/SEMITONE (OPTIONAL)
[Chords used]
C .... 332010
G/B .. X2000X
Am ... X02210
G .... 320003
G7 ... 320001
F .... 133211
Em ... 022000
[Intro]
C (picked or strummed - listen to the song and it's simple enough)
[Verse 1]
C
I am just a poor boy
G/B Am
Though my story's seldom told,
G
I have squandered my resistance
G7 C
For a pocket full of mumbles such are promises.
G/B Am
All lies and jest,
G F
Still a man hears what he wants to hear
C G C
And disregards the rest.
[Verse 2]
C
When I left my home and my family
G/B Am
I was no more than a boy
G
In the company of strangers,
G7 C
In the quiet of a railway station running scared.
G/B Am G F
Laying low, seeking out the poorer quarters
C
Where the ragged people go
G F C
Looking for the places only they would know.
[Chorus 1]
Am Em
Lie la lie, lie la lie lie, lie la lie,
Am
Lie la lie,
G7 C
Lie la lie la lie la lie la la la la lie.
[Verse 3]
C
Asking only workmans wages
G/B Am
I come looking for a job
G
But I get no offers,
G7 C
Just a come-on from the whores on Seventh Avenue.
G/B Am G F
I do declare, there were times when I was so lonesome
C G C
I took some comfort there, oeh la la la, la la la laa.
[Musical bridge]
C C G/B Am G G7 C
C G/B Am G F F C G F C
[Verse 4]
C
Now the years are rolling by me,
G/B Am
they are rockin' even me
G
I am older than I once was,
G7 C
and younger than I'll be, that's not unusual
Am G F C
No it isn't strange, after changes upon changes, we are more or less the same
G F C
After changes we are more or less the same.........
[Chorus 2]
Am Em
Lie la lie, lie la lie lie, lie la lie,
Am
Lie la lie,
G7 C
Lie la lie la lie la lie la la la la lie.
[Verse 5]
C
Then I'm laying out my winter clothes
G/B Am
And wishing I was gone,
G
Going home
G7 C
Where the New York City winters aren't bleeding me,
Em Am G C
Bleeding me ____ Going home.
[Verse 6]
C
In the clearing stands the boxer
G/B Am
And a fighter by his trade
G
And he carries the reminders
G7
Of Every glove that layed him down
C
Or cut him till he cried out
G/B Am
In his anger and his shame,
G F
"I am leaving, I am leaving!"
C G F C
But the fighter still remains.
[Chorus 3] Repeat X8
Am Em
Lie la lie, lie la lie lie, lie la lie,
Am
Lie la lie,
G7 C
Lie la lie la lie la lie la la la la lie.
[Outro]
C C G/B Am G G7 C
C G/B Am G F F C G F C
------------------
version 3
C
e---------------------|
B------1--------------|
G---------- 0---------|
D--------2------------|
A----3----------------|
E---------------------|
thats just an example but its kind of confusing for this song so i'm just putting up the
because i just strum them instead of bothering with the other way, i guess i'm just lazy.
[Verse]
C Am
I am just a poor boy, though my story's seldom told
G F
I have squandered my resistance, for a pocketful of mumbles, such are
C
promises.
Am G F
All lies are jest, still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the
C G F G C
rest, hmm hmm hmm etc...
All verses are played the same.
[Chorus]
C Am G
Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie la lie,
Am F G C
lie la lie, lie la lie la la lie la la la lie.
And then at the end of the 4th verse:
C Em G G7 C
leading me, going home
------------------
version 4
Verse 1:
C
I am just a poor boy
Am
Though my story's seldom told,
G
I have squandered my resistance
G7 C
For a pocket full of mumbles such are promises.
Am
All lies and jest,
G F
Still a man hears what he wants to hear
C F G C
And disregards the rest.
Verse 2:
C
When I left my home and my family
Am
I was no more than a boy
G
In the company of strangers,
G7 C
In the quiet of a railway station running scared.
Am G F
Laying low, seeking out the poorer quarters
C
Where the ragged people go
G F G C
Looking for the places only the would know.
Chorus
Am G
Lie la lie, lie la lie lie, lie la lie,
Am
Lie la lie,
F G C
Lie la lie la lie la lie la la la la lie.
Verse 3:
C
Asking only workmans wages
Am
I come looking for a job
G
But I get no offers,
G7 G C
Just a come-on from the whores on Seventh Avenue.
Am G F
I do declare, there were times when I was so lonesome
C G F G C
I took some comfort there, la la la la la.
Am G
Lie la lie, lie la lie lie, lie la lie,
Am
Lie la lie,
F G C
Lie la lie la lie la lie la la la la lie.
Verse 4:
C
Then I'm laying out my winter clothes
Am
And wishing I was gone,
G
Going home
G7 C
Where the New York City winters aren't bleeding me,
Em Am G C
Bleeding me ____ Going home.
Verse 5:
C
In the clearing stands the boxer
Am
And a fighter by his trade
G
And he carries the reminders
G7
Of Every glove that layed him down
C
Or cut him till he cried out
Am
In his anger and his shame,
G F
"I am leaving, I am leaving!"
C G, F, G, C
But the fighter still remains.
Am G
Lie la lie, lie la lie lie, lie la lie,
Am
Lie la lie,
F G C
Lie la lie la lie la lie la la la la lie.
------------------
version 5
e:|-----------------|
B:|---1-------1-----|
G:|-------0-------0-| (play this measure 4 times total for intro)
D:|-----2-------2---|
A:|-3---------------|
E:|---------3-------|
* C C G/B Am
e:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:|---1-------1-----|-----------------|---1-------1-----|-----1--------1--|
G:|-------0-------0-|--------%--------|-------0-------0-|----------2------|
D:|-----2-------2---|-----------------|-----2-------0---|-----2------2----|
A:|-3---------------|-----------------|-3-------2-------|-0------0--------|
E:|---------3-------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
I am just a poor boy though my story's seldom told I have
G G6 G7 G
e:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:|-----------0-----|-----------0-----|----------0------|---0-------0-----|
G:|---------------0-|---------------0-|------0-------0--|-------0-------0-|
D:|-----0-------0---|----0h2------2---|----3-------3----|-----0-------0---|
A:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E:|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|-3------3--------|-3-------3-------|
squandered my resistance for a pocketful of mumbles such are
C # G/B Am
e:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:|-----1-----1-----|---1-------1-----|---1-------1-----|-----------1-----|
G:|-0-------------0-|-------0-------0-|-------0-------0-|-----2---------0-|
D:|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|-----2-------0---|-----2-------2---|
A:|-3---------------|-3---------------|-3-------2-------|-0-------0-------|
E:|---------3-------|---------3-------|-----------------|-----------------|
promises All lies and jest still a
G F/C C
e:|-----------------|---1-------1-----|-----------------|-----0-----------|
B:|---0-------0-----|-------1-------1-|-----------------|---------3---1---|
G:|-------0-------0-|-----------------|--------%--------|-----0-----------|
D:|-----0-------0---|-----3-------3---|-----------------|---------3---2---|
A:|-----------------|-3-------3-------|-----------------|-3---------------|
E:|-3-------3-------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest. Mmmmm ...
G $ G6 G7 C
e:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:|-----0-----0-----|-----------0-----|-----------0-----|---1-------1-----|
G:|---------------0-|---------------0-|-------0-------0-|-------0-------0-|
D:|-----0-------0---|----0h2------2---|-----3-------3---|-----2-------2---|
A:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-3---------------|
E:|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|---------3-------|
Mmmmm ... ... ...
C
e:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----0-----------|
B:|-----1-----1-----|---1-------1-----|-----------------|-----1-----1-----|
G:|---------------0-|-------0-------0-|--------%--------|---------------0-|
D:|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|-----------------|-----2-------2---|
A:|-3---------------|-3---------------|-----------------|-3---------------|
E:|---------3-------|---------3-------|-----------------|---------3-------|
When I ...
For the second verse, return to * and repeat. At $, jump to:
$:
F/C C Am
e:|-----------------|---0-------0-----|-----0-----------|----0------------|
B:|-----------1-----|-------1-------1-|-----1-----------|----1---------1--|
G:|-----2--------2--|-----------------|-----0-----------|----2---0--0--2--|
D:|-----3--------3--|-----2-------2---|-----2-----------|----2---0--0--2--|
A:|-3-------3-------|-3---------------|-3-----------2---|-0--0---------0--|
E:|-----------------|---------3-------|----------3------|-----------------|
only they would know Lie la lie
Am Em Em Am
e:|-----------------|----0------------|-----------------|----0------------|
B:|-1---------------|----0------------|-----------------|----1------------|
G:|-2----(strum)----|----0---(strum)--|----(strum)------|----2---(strum)--|
D:|-2---------------|----2------------|-----------------|----2------------|
A:|-0---------------|----2------------|-----------------|-0--0------------|
E:|-----------------|-0--0------------|-----------------|-----------------|
Lie la lie la lie la lie Lie la lie
Am G
e:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
G:|----(strum)------|------0-------0--|-------0---------|
D:|-----------------|----0-------0----|-----0----0------|
A:|-----------------|---------0-------|--2----------2---|
E:|-----------------|-3---------------|-----------------|
lie la la la lie la lie la la la la
For the third verse, return to the intro and repeat, NOT taking the $ jump.
Then for the fourth verse, return to * and repeat, taking the $ jump.
For the "winter clothes" verse, return to * and repeat. At #, jump to:
#:
Em Am
e:|-0---------------|-----------------|-----------0-----|-----------------|
B:|-0---------------|---0-------0-----|---1-------------|-----------------|
G:|-0---------------|-------0-------0-|-------2-------2-|--------%--------|
D:|-2---------------|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|-----------------|
A:|-2---------------|-----------------|-0-------0-------|-----------------|
E:|-0---------------|-0-------0-------|-----------------|-----------------|
bleedin' me to goin'
G G6 G7
e:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:|-0---------0-----|-----------0-----|-----------0-----|
G:|------0--------0-|---------------0-|---------------0-|
D:|----0--------0---|----0h2------2---|-----3-------3---|
A:|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E:|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|-3-------3-------|
home
Finally, for the last verse, play 2 bars of the intro, repeat from *,
taking the $ jump (with Am - Em, "Lie-la-lie" repeats), and finish
with:
C Cmaj7
e:|-------0-------0-|-----------------|-----------------|---------0-------|
B:|---1-------1-----|-----------------|-----------------|---------0-------|
G:|-----0-----------|--------%--------|--------%--------|---------0-------|
D:|-------------0---|-----------------|-----------------|-2-------2-------|
A:|-3---------------|-----------------|-----------------|---------3-------|
E:|---------3-------|-----------------|-----------------|----3------------|
| h Hammer-on
-------------