Folk, Rock

The Boxer Chords

Simon & Garfunkel Beginner Key of C 5 Chords 3 min read

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Key

C Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

C · Am · G · F · Em

Simon & Garfunkel’s folk-rock ballad about a young man’s struggle and resilience. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of D, but these chords are written for open position playing in C.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

I am just a poor boy

G Am

Though my story’s seldom told

F C

I have squandered my resistance

G Am

For a pocketful of mumbles

F

Such are promises

C

All lies and jest

G Am

Still, a man hears what he wants to hear

F C

And disregards the rest

Verse 2

C

When I left my home

G Am F

And my family, I was no more than a boy

C G

In the company of strangers

Am F

In the quiet of the railway station

C

Running scared,

G

Laying low,

Am

Seeking out the poorer quarters

F C

Where the ragged people go

G

Looking for the places

Am

Only they would know

Chorus

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

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

Verse 3

C

Asking only workman’s wages

G Am

I come looking for a job

F

But I get no offers,

C G Am

Just a come-on from the whores on Seventh Avenue

F

I do declare,

C G

There were times when I was so lonesome

Am

I took some comfort there

Chorus

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

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

Verse 4

C

Then I’m laying out my winter clothes

G Am

And wishing I was gone

F

Going home

C G

Where the New York City winters

Am

Aren’t bleeding me

F

Leading me

C

Going home

Bridge

F C

In the clearing stands a boxer

G Am

And a fighter by his trade

F C

And he carries the reminders

G Am

Of every glove that laid him down

F C

Or cut him till he cried out

G Am

In his anger and his shame

F C

“I am leaving, I am leaving”

G Am

But the fighter still remains

Chorus

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

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

Practice tip: The “Lie la lie” section uses just two chords (F and C). Practice switching between them cleanly before adding the strum pattern.

Ctap to play

Amtap to play

Gtap to play

Ftap to play

Emtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

C · Am · G · F · Em

Simon & Garfunkel’s folk-rock ballad about a young man’s struggle and resilience. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of D, but these chords are written for open position playing in C.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

I am just a poor boy

G Am

Though my story’s seldom told

F C

I have squandered my resistance

G Am

For a pocketful of mumbles

F

Such are promises

C

All lies and jest

G Am

Still, a man hears what he wants to hear

F C

And disregards the rest

Verse 2

C

When I left my home

G Am F

And my family, I was no more than a boy

C G

In the company of strangers

Am F

In the quiet of the railway station

C

Running scared,

G

Laying low,

Am

Seeking out the poorer quarters

F C

Where the ragged people go

G

Looking for the places

Am

Only they would know

Chorus

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

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

Verse 3

C

Asking only workman’s wages

G Am

I come looking for a job

F

But I get no offers,

C G Am

Just a come-on from the whores on Seventh Avenue

F

I do declare,

C G

There were times when I was so lonesome

Am

I took some comfort there

Chorus

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

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

Verse 4

C

Then I’m laying out my winter clothes

G Am

And wishing I was gone

F

Going home

C G

Where the New York City winters

Am

Aren’t bleeding me

F

Leading me

C

Going home

Bridge

F C

In the clearing stands a boxer

G Am

And a fighter by his trade

F C

And he carries the reminders

G Am

Of every glove that laid him down

F C

Or cut him till he cried out

G Am

In his anger and his shame

F C

“I am leaving, I am leaving”

G Am

But the fighter still remains

Chorus

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

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

Practice tip: The “Lie la lie” section uses just two chords (F and C). Practice switching between them cleanly before adding the strum pattern.

Ctap to play

Amtap to play

Gtap to play

Ftap to play

Emtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

C · Am · G · F · Em

Simon & Garfunkel’s folk-rock ballad about a young man’s struggle and resilience. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of D, but these chords are written for open position playing in C.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

I am just a poor boy

G Am

Though my story’s seldom told

F C

I have squandered my resistance

G Am

For a pocketful of mumbles

F

Such are promises

C

All lies and jest

G Am

Still, a man hears what he wants to hear

F C

And disregards the rest

Verse 2

C

When I left my home

G Am F

And my family, I was no more than a boy

C G

In the company of strangers

Am F

In the quiet of the railway station

C

Running scared,

G

Laying low,

Am

Seeking out the poorer quarters

F C

Where the ragged people go

G

Looking for the places

Am

Only they would know

Chorus

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

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

Verse 3

C

Asking only workman’s wages

G Am

I come looking for a job

F

But I get no offers,

C G Am

Just a come-on from the whores on Seventh Avenue

F

I do declare,

C G

There were times when I was so lonesome

Am

I took some comfort there

Chorus

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

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

Verse 4

C

Then I’m laying out my winter clothes

G Am

And wishing I was gone

F

Going home

C G

Where the New York City winters

Am

Aren’t bleeding me

F

Leading me

C

Going home

Bridge

F C

In the clearing stands a boxer

G Am

And a fighter by his trade

F C

And he carries the reminders

G Am

Of every glove that laid him down

F C

Or cut him till he cried out

G Am

In his anger and his shame

F C

“I am leaving, I am leaving”

G Am

But the fighter still remains

Chorus

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

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

Practice tip: The “Lie la lie” section uses just two chords (F and C). Practice switching between them cleanly before adding the strum pattern.

Ctap to play

Amtap to play

Gtap to play

Ftap to play

Emtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

C · Am · G · F · Em

Simon & Garfunkel’s folk-rock ballad about a young man’s struggle and resilience. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of D, but these chords are written for open position playing in C.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

I am just a poor boy

G Am

Though my story’s seldom told

F C

I have squandered my resistance

G Am

For a pocketful of mumbles

F

Such are promises

C

All lies and jest

G Am

Still, a man hears what he wants to hear

F C

And disregards the rest

Verse 2

C

When I left my home

G Am F

And my family, I was no more than a boy

C G

In the company of strangers

Am F

In the quiet of the railway station

C

Running scared,

G

Laying low,

Am

Seeking out the poorer quarters

F C

Where the ragged people go

G

Looking for the places

Am

Only they would know

Chorus

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

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

Verse 3

C

Asking only workman’s wages

G Am

I come looking for a job

F

But I get no offers,

C G Am

Just a come-on from the whores on Seventh Avenue

F

I do declare,

C G

There were times when I was so lonesome

Am

I took some comfort there

Chorus

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

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

Verse 4

C

Then I’m laying out my winter clothes

G Am

And wishing I was gone

F

Going home

C G

Where the New York City winters

Am

Aren’t bleeding me

F

Leading me

C

Going home

Bridge

F C

In the clearing stands a boxer

G Am

And a fighter by his trade

F C

And he carries the reminders

G Am

Of every glove that laid him down

F C

Or cut him till he cried out

G Am

In his anger and his shame

F C

“I am leaving, I am leaving”

G Am

But the fighter still remains

Chorus

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

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

Practice tip: The “Lie la lie” section uses just two chords (F and C). Practice switching between them cleanly before adding the strum pattern.

Ctap to play

Amtap to play

Gtap to play

Ftap to play

Emtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

C · Am · G · F · Em

Simon & Garfunkel’s folk-rock ballad about a young man’s struggle and resilience. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of D, but these chords are written for open position playing in C.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

I am just a poor boy

G Am

Though my story’s seldom told

F C

I have squandered my resistance

G Am

For a pocketful of mumbles

F

Such are promises

C

All lies and jest

G Am

Still, a man hears what he wants to hear

F C

And disregards the rest

Verse 2

C

When I left my home

G Am F

And my family, I was no more than a boy

C G

In the company of strangers

Am F

In the quiet of the railway station

C

Running scared,

G

Laying low,

Am

Seeking out the poorer quarters

F C

Where the ragged people go

G

Looking for the places

Am

Only they would know

Chorus

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

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

Verse 3

C

Asking only workman’s wages

G Am

I come looking for a job

F

But I get no offers,

C G Am

Just a come-on from the whores on Seventh Avenue

F

I do declare,

C G

There were times when I was so lonesome

Am

I took some comfort there

Chorus

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

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

Verse 4

C

Then I’m laying out my winter clothes

G Am

And wishing I was gone

F

Going home

C G

Where the New York City winters

Am

Aren’t bleeding me

F

Leading me

C

Going home

Bridge

F C

In the clearing stands a boxer

G Am

And a fighter by his trade

F C

And he carries the reminders

G Am

Of every glove that laid him down

F C

Or cut him till he cried out

G Am

In his anger and his shame

F C

“I am leaving, I am leaving”

G Am

But the fighter still remains

Chorus

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

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

Practice tip: The “Lie la lie” section uses just two chords (F and C). Practice switching between them cleanly before adding the strum pattern.

Ctap to play

Amtap to play

Gtap to play

Ftap to play

Emtap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

C · Am · G · F · Em

Simon & Garfunkel’s folk-rock ballad about a young man’s struggle and resilience. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a capo on the 2nd fret to match the original recording’s key of D, but these chords are written for open position playing in C.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C

I am just a poor boy

G Am

Though my story’s seldom told

F C

I have squandered my resistance

G Am

For a pocketful of mumbles

F

Such are promises

C

All lies and jest

G Am

Still, a man hears what he wants to hear

F C

And disregards the rest

Verse 2

C

When I left my home

G Am F

And my family, I was no more than a boy

C G

In the company of strangers

Am F

In the quiet of the railway station

C

Running scared,

G

Laying low,

Am

Seeking out the poorer quarters

F C

Where the ragged people go

G

Looking for the places

Am

Only they would know

Chorus

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

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

Verse 3

C

Asking only workman’s wages

G Am

I come looking for a job

F

But I get no offers,

C G Am

Just a come-on from the whores on Seventh Avenue

F

I do declare,

C G

There were times when I was so lonesome

Am

I took some comfort there

Chorus

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

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

Verse 4

C

Then I’m laying out my winter clothes

G Am

And wishing I was gone

F

Going home

C G

Where the New York City winters

Am

Aren’t bleeding me

F

Leading me

C

Going home

Bridge

F C

In the clearing stands a boxer

G Am

And a fighter by his trade

F C

And he carries the reminders

G Am

Of every glove that laid him down

F C

Or cut him till he cried out

G Am

In his anger and his shame

F C

“I am leaving, I am leaving”

G Am

But the fighter still remains

Chorus

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie lie lie

F C

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

Practice tip: The “Lie la lie” section uses just two chords (F and C). Practice switching between them cleanly before adding the strum pattern.