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The Boxer
Simon and Garfunkel
Hey folks, here's the fixed version! This song sounds best using the
Em7 with using just your birdie finger, usually just "walking"
the base note from the C down to the Am.
Em7 x2xx0x
G 32000x
Anyways, you've got a couple of picking options with this song;
I use the classic pinch Travis picking pattern pretty much all the
way through for this one. This adds a little more sound when using a
single guitar. If you're on a C chord this is what the pattern looks like:
e|-------------------|
B|--o----------o-----|
G|--------o----------|
D|-----o---------o---|
A|--o-------o--------|
E|-------------------| (Pinch, in-side out-side in)
Or you can use the alternating outside/inside pattern at the end of the intro:
[Intro]
e|-3-0---0-----0---|---0-------------|-----------------|------------------||
B|-----3---3-----3-|-----3---1-----1-|---1-------1-----|---1-------1------||
G|-----------3-----|-0-----0---3-0---|-------0-------0-|-------0-------0--||
D|-----------------|-----------------|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2----||
A|-----------------|-----------------|-3---------------|-3----------------||
E|-----------------|-----------------|---------3-------|---------3--------|| Repeat Outside/inside
[Verse 1]
C
I am just a poor boy
Em7 Am
Though my story's seldom told,
G
I have squandered my resistance
G7 C
For a pocket full of mumbles, such are promises
Em7 Am
All lies and jests
G F
Still a man hears what he wants to hear
C G G7 C
And disregards the rest
[Verse 2]
C
When I left my home and my family,
Em7 Am
I was no more than a boy
G
In the company of strangers
G7
In the quiet of the railway station,
C
Running scared,
Em7 Am G F
Laying low, seeking out the poorer quarters
C
Where the ragged people go
G
Looking for the places
G7 G C
Only they would know
[Hook]
C Em7 Am Em7
Lie la lie, lie la la la la lie lie
Am F G C
Lie la lie, la la Lie la la la Lie la la la lah lie
[Verse 3]
C
Asking only workman's wages
Em7 Am
I come looking for a job,
G
But I get no offers,
G7
Just a come-on from the whores
C
On Seventh Avenue
Em7 Am
I do declare,
G F
There were times when I was so lonesome
C G G7 C
I took some comfort there, le le le le le le le
[Chorus]
C Em7 Am Em7
Lie la lie, lie la la la la lie lie
Am F G C
Lie la lie, la la Lie la la la Lie la la la lah lie
[Verse 4]
C
Then I'm laying out my winter clothes
Em7 Am
And wishing I was gone,
G
Going home
G7
Where the New York City winters
C
Aren't bleeding me,
Em7 Am
Leading me,
G
Going home
[Verse 5]
C
In the clearing stands a boxer,
Em7 Am
And a fighter by his trade
G
And he carries the reminders
G7
Of ev'ry glove that laid him down
C
Or cut him till he cried out
Em7 Am
In his anger and his shame,
G F
"I am leaving, I am leaving"
C G G7 C
But the fighter still remains, mmm mmm
[Outro]
C Em7 Am Em7
Lie la lie, lie la la la la lie lie
Am F G
Lie la lie, la la Lie la la la Lie la la la lah
Am Em7
Lie, lie la la la la lie lie
Am F G
Lie la lie, la la Lie la la la Lie la la la lah
Am Em7
Lie, lie la la la la lie lie
Am F G C
Lie la lie, la la Lie la la la Lie la la la lah lie