The Boxer Chords & Tabs
by Simon & Garfunkel
[Version Description]
Strumming Patterns:
Main Pattern:
BPM: 93
Denominator: 16
Triplet: No
Measures: [1, 202, 3, 101, 1, 101, 3, 101]
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 C/B Am
I am just a poor boy, though my story's seldom told
G
I have squandered my resistance
G7 G6 C
For a pocketful of mumbles such are promises
C/B Am G F
All lies and jest still a man hears what he wants to hear
C GFGC
And disregards the rest
C C/B Am
When I left my home and family I was no more than a boy
G
In the company of strangers
G7 G6 C
In the quiet of a railway station running scared
C/B 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 C/B Am
Asking only workmans wages I come looking for a job
G
But I get no offers
G7 G6 C
Just a come-on from the whores on Seventh Avenue
C/B 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 | C C/B Am | G7 | G7 |
CCC/B Am G7
(2/4)
FCG7 F C
(2/4)
*************************************************************************************
Extra verse in live versions
C C/B Am
Now the years are rolling by me, they are rocking evenly
G
And I am older than I once was
G7 G6 C
And younger than I'll be, that's not unusual
C/B 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 C/B Am
Then I'm laying out my winter clothes and wishing I was gone
G G7 G6 C
Going home where the New York City winters aren't bleeding me
Em Am
Leading me-e
G7 C
Going home
C C/B Am
In the clearing stands a boxer and a fighter by his trade
G
And he carries the reminders
G7 G6 C
Of ev'ry glove that laid him down or cut him till he cried out
C/B Am
In his anger and his shame
G F C
"I am leaving, I am leaving." but the fighter still remains
G FGC
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 | C C/B Am | G | G |
CCC/B Am G7
(2/4)
FCG7 F C C
(2/4)
