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.