Simon and Garfunkel - The Boxer

First performance: 17/01/1990

Coverinfo

Bruce performed the song only once:
 
 
1990-01-17 Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York City, NY 
 
Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame all-star jam. Bruce shares lead vocals on "Long Tall Sally" with John Fogerty, and plays guitar and sings backing vocals on the rest of the songs. Inducted into the Hall Of Fame are Hank Ballard, Bobby Darin, The Four Seasons, Four Tops, The Kinks, The Platters, Simon & Garfunkel, and The Who. 
 
 
Pro-shot video available. Audio of "Substitute", "Won't Get Fooled Again", "Pinball Wizard", and "Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite" was officially released in 2011 on the compilation album Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, Vol. 1: 1986-1991 (Live), and video of "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)", Substitute", "Won't Get Fooled Again", and "Pinball Wizard" is available on the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Live DVD. 
 
 
 

Songinfo

"The Boxer" is a song recorded by the American music duo Simon & Garfunkel from their fifth studio album, Bridge over Troubled Water (1970). Produced by the duo and Roy Halee, it was released as the lead single from the album on March 21, 1969. The song, written by Paul Simon, is a folk rock ballad that variously takes the form of a first-person lament as well as a third-person sketch of a boxer. The lyrics are largely autobiographical and partially inspired by the Bible, and were written during a time when they felt they were being unfairly criticized. The song's lyrics discuss poverty and loneliness. It is particularly known for its plaintive refrain, in which they sing 'lie-la-lie', accompanied by a heavily reverbed snare drum. The version originally released on single by the duo features an instrumental melody played in unison on pedal steel guitar played by Curly Chalker and piccolo trumpet. The song also features a bass harmonica, played by Charlie McCoy, heard during the second and final verses.
 
 
 

Bruce on the artist

Lyrics

I am just a poor boy
Though my story's seldom told
I have squandered my resistance
For a pocket full of mumbles, such are promises
All lies and jests
Still a man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest
When I left my home and my family
I was no more than a boy
In the company of strangers
In the quiet of the 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 lie lie
Lie la lie, lie la la la la lie 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
There were times when I was so lonesome
I took some comfort there, le le le le le le le
Lie la lie, lie la la la lie lie
Lie la lie, lie la la la la lie la la lie
Then I'm laying out my winter clothes
And 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
And a fighter by his trade
And he carries the reminders
Of ev'ry glove that laid him down
Or cut him till he cried out
In his anger and his shame
"I am leaving, I am leaving"
But the fighter still remains, mmm mmm
Lie la lie, lie la la la lie lie
Lie la lie, lie la la la la lie la la lie
Lie la lie, lie la la la lie lie
Lie la lie, lie la la la la lie la la lie
Lie la lie, lie la la la lie lie....