The Boxer (Live)

[Verse 1]

I am just a poor boy

Though my story's seldom told

I have squandered—I have squandered my resistance

For a pocketful of mumbles such are promises

All lies and jest

Still, a man hears

What he wants to hear

And disregards the rest, mmhm-hmm, mm, mm-mm, mmm

[Verse 2]

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, runnin' scared

Laying low, seeking out the poorer quarters

Where the ragged people go

Looking for the places

Only they would know

[Chorus]

Lie-la-lie, lie-la-lie-la, lie-la-lie

Lie-la-lie, lie-la-lie, la-lie-la-lie, la-la-lie-la-lie

[Verse 3]

Asking only workman's wages

I come lookin' 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, ooh, la-la, la, la, la, la-la

[Verse 4]

Now the years are rolling by me

They are rockin' evenly

Now 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]

Lie-la-lie, lie-la-lie-la, lie-la-lie

Lie-la-lie, lie-la-lie, la-lie-la-lie, la-la-lie-la-lie

Lie-la-lie, lie-la-lie-la, lie-la-lie

Lie-la-lie, lie-la-lie, la-lie-la-lie, la-la-lie-la-lie

[Verse 5]

Then I'm laying out my winter clothes

Wishing I was gone, going home

Where the New York City winters aren't bleeding me

Leading me to going home

[Verse 6]

In the clearing stands a boxer

And a fighter by his trade

And he carries the reminders

Of every glove that laid him down

Or cut him 'til he cried out

In his anger and his shame

"I am leaving, I am leaving"

But the fighter still remains, yes, he still remains

[Chorus]

Lie-la-lie, lie-la-lie-la, lie-la-lie

Lie-la-lie, lie-la-lie, la-lie-la-lie, la-la-lie-la-lie

Lie-la-lie, lie-la-lie-la, lie-la-lie

Lie-la-lie, lie-la-lie, la-lie-la-lie, la-la-lie-la-lie

Lie-la-lie, lie-la-lie-la, lie-la-lie

Lie-la-lie, lie-la-lie, la-lie-la-lie, la-la-lie-la-lie

[Outro: Spoken]

Thank you, good night

Thank you, thanks very much