The Boxer

| C |

[Verse 1]
C                                              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
             Am           G                 F
All lies and jest still a man hears what he wants to hear
                   C      G    F G C
And disregards the rest

       C                                            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
       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                                        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
       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  Am | G7    | G7    |
| C     | C  Am | G7 |
                 (2/4)
| F     | C  G7 | F  | C     |
                 (2/4)

*************************************************************************************

Extra verse in live versions

        C                                             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
             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                                              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                                            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
                     Am
In his anger and his shame
      G             F                                 C
"I am leaving, I am leaving." but the fighter still remains
        G       F G C
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  Am | G     | G     |
| C     | C  Am | G7 |
                 (2/4)
| F     | C  G7 | F  | C   C
                 (2/4)