The Boxer

Paul Simon

Tune down your guitar one semi-tone. The studio recording is tuned slightly sharp of a
half step down. Try about +20 cents using an electronic tuner.
 
If you want to play in the original key in standard tuning, transpose this chord sheet
and/or use a capo to match the recording:
 
Transpose  Capo       Play   Key
-3         2nd fret   A      B   (studio version)
-5         4th fret   G      B   (studio version)
+1         1st fret   C      C#  (Live: "Concert in Central Park")
-          -          C      C   (Live: "Live 1969", "Old Friends",
                                  "Paul Simon in Concert: Live Rhymin'")
 
[Intro]

| C |
 
[Verse 1]
C                                              Am
I am just a poor boy, though my story's seldom told
       G
I have squandered my resistance
      G                             C
For a pocketful of mumbles such are promises
    C        Am           G                 F
All lies and jest still a man hears what he wants to hear
                   C      G    F G C
And disregards the rest
 
       C                                            Am
When I left my home and family I was no more than a boy
       G
In the company of strangers
       G                          C
In the quiet of a railway station running scared
C      Am          G              F                                C
Laying low seeking out the poorer quarters where the ragged people go
        G              F    G          C
Looking for the places only they would know
 
 
[Refrain]
       Am
Lie-la-lie
       Em
Lie-la-la-la-la lie-la-lie
       Am
Lie la lie
       G                           C
Lie-la la la la la lie la la la la lie
 
 
[Verse 2]
       C                                        Am
Asking only workmans wages I come looking for a job
             G
But I get no offers
       G                                  C
Just a come-on from the whores on Seventh Avenue
  C    Am               G                F                               C
I do declare there were times when I was so lonesome I took some comfort there
      G               C
La-la-la-la-la-la-la
 
 
[Interlude]
| C     |       Am | G     |       |
| C     |       Am | G  |
                    (2/4)
| F     | C  G  | F  | C     |
                 (2/4)
 
*************************************************************************************
 
Extra verse in live versions
 
        C                                             Am
Now the years are rolling by me, they are rocking evenly
         G
And I am older than I once was
    G                                  C
And younger than I'll be, that's not unusual
       C     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
 
**************************************************************************************
 
[Refrain]
       Am
Lie-la-lie
       Em
Lie-la-la-la-la lie-la-lie
       Am
Lie la lie
       G                           C
Lie-la la la la la lie la la la la lie
 
 
[Verse 3]
         C                                              Am
Then I'm laying out my winter clothes and wishing I was gone
      G                                           C
Going home where the New York City winters aren't bleeding me
Em          Am
 Leading me-e
      G       C
Going home
 
       C                                            Am
In the clearing stands a boxer and a fighter by his trade
       G
And he carries the reminders
   G                                 C
Of ev'ry glove that laid him down or cut him till he cried out
             C       Am
In his anger and his shame
      G             F                                 C
"I am leaving, I am leaving." but the fighter still remains
        G       F G C
Hm, hm, hm
 
 
[Refrain]
       Am
Lie-la-lie
       Em
Lie-la-la-la-la lie-la-lie
       Am
Lie la lie
       G                          [ Am ]
Lie-la la la la la lie la la la la lie
 
Am          Em
     Lie-la-la-la-la lie-la-lie
       Am
Lie la lie
       G                          [ Am ]
Lie-la la la la la lie la la la la lie
 
Am          Em
     Lie-la-la-la-la lie-la-lie
       Am
Lie la lie
       G                          [ Am ]
Lie-la la la la la lie la la la la lie
 
Am          Em
     Lie-la-la-la-la lie-la-lie
       Am
Lie la lie
       G                          [ Am ]
Lie-la la la la la lie la la la la lie
 
Am          Em
     Lie-la-la-la-la lie-la-lie
       Am
Lie la lie
       G                          [ Am ]
Lie-la la la la la lie la la la la lie
 
Am          Em
     Lie-la-la-la-la lie-la-lie
       Am
Lie la lie
       G                          [ Am ]
Lie-la la la la la lie la la la la lie
 
Am          Em
     Lie-la-la-la-la lie-la-lie
       Am
Lie la lie
       G                          [ Am ]
Lie-la la la la la lie la la la la lie
 
Am          Em
     Lie-la-la-la-la lie-la-lie
       Am
Lie la lie
       G                          [ C ]
Lie-la la la la la lie la la la la lie
 
 
[Outro]
| C     |       Am | G     |       |
| C     |       Am | G  |
                    (2/4)
| F     | C  G  | F  | C
                 (2/4)