THE BOXER

Written by
Paul Simon

Originally performed by

Simon And Garfunkel (1970)
The Gimmes version also includes
Misc.

A-side of the "GARF" 7" (1999).

The song also appears on the Pizza Of Death Records / Fat Wreck Chords CD (EP) "Turn Japanese" (2001) and on the Hanuk-Comp compilation. Check out the other comps the Gimmes have appeared on here.

It later appeared as track 2 of "Have Another Ball" (2008).

In the third verse, "the whores" became "some bitch".

Learn more about this song here.

Tabs
Bass tab (from www.jiihootabs.cjb.net).

Lyrics :

I am just a poor boy though my story's seldom told
I have squantered my resistance
For a pocketful of mumbles such are promises
All lies and jest, still the man hears what he wants to hear
And disregards the rest

When I left my home and 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

Li la li
Li la li la li la li
Li la li
Li la li la la la li la la la la li

Asking only workman's wages I come looking for a job
But I get no offers
Just a come-on from some bitch on Seventh Avenue
I do declare there were times when I was so lonesome
I took some comfort there, oo-la la la la la la la

Li la li
Li la li la li la li
Li la li
Li la li la la la li la la la la li

And 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 every glove that laid him down
And cut him 'til he cried out in his anger and his shame
I am leaving, I am leaving
But the fighter still remains, la la la la la la la la la la

Li la li
Li la li la li la li
Li la li
Li la li la la la li la la la la li
Li la li la li la li
Li la li
Li la li la la la li la la la la li
Yeah, yeah, yeah, awoo