The Boxer
Paul Simon

Simon & Garfunkel
Bridge Over Troubled Water
1968
This is one of the easier picking songs S&G ever did,
so I decided to put it up for you newbies.  This
pattern is just like the first picking pattern we ever
did, so this shouldn't be too hard for you guys.
I've also included the verse which appears on the
Concert in Central Park album, because I think
it is fun and that's the copy of the song I have anyway.
Have fun with this one, and good luck!  I really
don't have the intro figured out, but here's the
general idea of the song.


Here's the first verse. All other verses sound like this except for the "Then I'm laying out my winter clothes..." verse. I will indicate that change below. C C/G C C/G C C/G C C/G C C/B I am just a poor boy... story's seldom + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + e:-------0-------0-|-------0-------0-|-------0-------0-|-------0-------0-|-------0---------| B:-----1-------1---|-----1-------1---|-----1-------1---|-----1-------1---|-----1-----------| G:---0-------0-----|---0-------0-----|---0-------0-----|---0-------0-----|---0-------------| D:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| A:-3---------------|-3---------------|-3---------------|-3---------------|-3-------3---2---| E:---------3-------|---------3-------|---------3-------|---------3-------|-----------------| Am G G7 G6 told I have squandered... resistance for a pocketful... mumbles... + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + e:-------0-------0-|-------3-------3-|-------3-------3-|-------1-------1-|-------0-------0-| B:-----1-------1---|-----0-------0---|-----0-------0---|-----0-------0---|-----0-------0---| G:---2-------2-----|---0-------0-----|---0-------0-----|---0-------0-----|---0-------0-----| D:---------2-------|---------0-------|---------0-------|---------0-------|---------0-------| A:-0---------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| E:-----------------|-3---------------|-3---------------|-3---------------|-3---------------| C C/G C C/G C C/B Am G promises. All lies in jest still a man hears what he + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + e:-------0-------0-|-------0-------0-|-------0---------|-------0-------0-|-------3-------3-| B:-----1-------1---|-----1-------1---|-----1-----------|-----1-------1---|-----0-------0---| G:---0-------0-----|---0-------0-----|---0-------------|---2-------2-----|---0-------0-----| D:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|---------2-------|---------0-------| A:-3---------------|-3---------------|-3-------3---2---|-0---------------|-----------------| E:---------3-------|---------3-------|-----------------|-----------------|-3---------------| F C C/G G wants to hear...disregards the rest La la la.... + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + e:-------1-------1-|-------1-------1-|-------0-------0-|-------3-------3-|-------3-------3-| B:-----1-------1---|-----1-------1---|-----1-------1---|-----0-------0---|-----0-------0---| G:---2-------2-----|---2-------2-----|---0-------0-----|---0-------0-----|---0-------0-----| D:---------3-------|---------3-------|-----------------|---------0-------|---------0-------| A:-----------------|-----------------|-3---------------|-----------------|-----------------| E:-1---------------|-1---------------|---------3-------|-3---------------|-3---------------| G7 G6 C C/G C C/G + + + + + + + + + + + + e:-------1-------0-|-------0-------0-|-------0-------0-| B:-----0-------0---|-----1-------1---|-----1-------1---| G:---0-------0-----|---0-------0-----|---0-------0-----| D:---------0-------|-----------------|-----------------| A:-----------------|-3---------------|-3---------------| E:-3---------------|---------3-------|---------3-------|
Here is the change for the "Winter clothes" verse, there are only two chords changed. This tab picks up after "New York City winters aren't bleeding me". G6 C C/G C C/G Em winters aren't bleeding me bleeding me + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + e:-------0-------0-|-------0-------0-|-------0-------0-|-------0-------0-|-------0-------0-| B:-----0-------0---|-----1-------1---|-----1-------1---|-----0-------0---|-----0-------0---| G:---0-------0-----|---0-------0-----|---0-------0-----|---0-------0-----|---0-------0-----| D:---------0-------|-----------------|-----------------|---------2-------|---------2-------| A:-----------------|-3---------------|-3---------------|-----------------|-----------------| E:-3---------------|---------3-------|---------3-------|-0---------------|-0---------------| Am G G7 G6 going home + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + e:-------0-------0-|-------0-------0-|-------3-------3-|-------3-------3-|-------1-------0-| B:-----1-------1---|-----1-------1---|-----0-------0---|-----0-------0---|-----0-------0---| G:---2-------2-----|---2-------2-----|---0-------0-----|---0-------0-----|---0-------0-----| D:---------2-------|---------2-------|---------0-------|---------0-------|---------0-------| A:-0---------------|-0---------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| E:-----------------|-----------------|-3---------------|-3---------------|-3---------------| C C/G C C/G + + + + + + + + e:-------0-------0-|-------0-------0-| B:-----1-------1---|-----1-------1---| G:---0-------0-----|---0-------0-----| D:-----------------|-----------------| A:-3---------------|-3---------------| E:---------3-------|---------3-------|
Here are the lyrics to the first two verses. Play them, then go into the chorus: I am just a poor boy though my story's seldom told I have squandered my resistance for a pocketful of mumbles, such are promises All lies in jest, still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest La la la... When I left my home and family I was no more than a boy In the company of strangers in the quiet of a railway station runnin' scared Layin' low, seeking out the poorer quarters where the ragged people go Looking for the places only they would know
Here's the chorus, just strum these chords (remember the strumming lesson?), then go back to the verse. Am Lie la lie G Lie la lie lie lie la lie Am Lie la lie F G C Lie la lie lie lie lie lie la la lie 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 La la la... (added verse) Now the years are rolling by me, they are rocking evenly And I'm older than I once was, and younger than I'll be that's not unusual Nor is it strange...after changes upon changes we are more or less the same After changes we are more or less the same Chorus (changed verse, so play
changed pattern.) Now I'm laying out my winter clothes and wishing I was home Going home...where the New York City winters aren't bleeding me Bleeding me...going home In the clearing stands the boxer, and a fighter by his trade And he carries the reminder of every glove that's laid him down Or cut him till he cried out in his anger and his pain "I am leaving! I am leaving!" but the fighter still remains Chorus To repeat the chorus, instead of ending on C as shown above, end on Am and repeat. For a final ending, end on C.

Created on 2-24-97 by Daniel E. Smith.