Simon & Garfunkel - The Boxer Chords
Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.
Guitar C chord diagram
Guitar Am chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar F chord diagram
Guitar Dm chord diagram
Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar G7 chord diagram
[Opening]
[C]I am just a poor boy, though my story’s seldom [Am]told
I have [G]squandered my resistance
For a pocketful of mumbles such are [C]promises
All lies and [Am]jest still a [G]man hears what he [F]wants to hear
And disregards the [C]rest [G] [C]
[verse 2]
When I left my home and family I was no more than a [Am]boy
In the [G]company of strangers
In the [Dm]quiet of a railway station [C]running scared
Laying [Am]low seeking [G]out the
Poorer [F]quarters where the ragged people [C]go
Looking [G]for the places [F]only [Em]they [Dm]would [C]know
[chorus]
[Am]Lie la lie, [G]lie la lie la lie la lie
Lie la [Am]lie, [G]lie la lie la la la la lie la la [G]la la [C]lie
[verse 3]
Asking only work mans wages I come looking for a [Am]job
But I get no [G]offers
Just a [Dm]come on from the whores on seventh [C]avenue
I do [Am]declare there were [Dm]times when [G]I was [F]
So lonesome I took some comfort [C]there
[verse 4]
[G]Ooo la la la la la la [C]
[Am]Lie la lie, [Em]lie la lie la lie la lie
Lie la [Am]lie, [G]lie la lie la la la la lie la la [G]la [C]la lie
[verse 5]
[C]Then I’m laying out my winter clothes, [G7]and [C]wishing I was [Am]gone.
Going [G]home where the [Dm]New York [G7]City winters [G]aren’t [C]bleeding me.
Leading me, [Am]going [G]home.
[Closing]
In the [C]clearing stands a boxer and a fighter by his [Am]trade.
And he [G]carries the reminders, of e[G7]v’ry glove that l[C]aid him down.
Or cut him ‘[Dm]till he [G7]cried out, [C]in his anger and his [Am]shame.
“I am [G]leaving, I am [F]leaving.” But the fighter still [C]remains.
[chorus]
[G] [C] [G] [F] [C]
[Am]Lie la lie, [Em]lie la lie la lie la lie
Lie la [Am]lie, [G]lie la lie la la la la lie la la la [Am]la lie
How to play The Boxer on Guitar (Step-by-step)
Simon & Garfunkel - The Boxer on guitar requires 7 chords and 14 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↑↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.
The Boxer uses these transitions most often: Am → G (13), C → Am (13), and G → C (8). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with C - Am chord transition.
1. C → Am chord transition
To move from C to Am;
- Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
- Keep middle finger on D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.
2. Am → G chord transition
To move from Am to G;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
3. G → C chord transition
To move from G to C;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
4. G → F chord transition
To move from G to F;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
- Place pinky on D string fret 3.
5. F → C chord transition
To move from F to C;
- While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Keep ring finger on A string fret 3.
6. G → Dm chord transition
To move from G to Dm;
- Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.
7. Dm → C chord transition
To move from Dm to C;
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on A string fret 3.
8. F → Em chord transition
To move from F to Em;
- While playing F, first lift your index finger and pinky.
- Lift your middle finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from A string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
9. Em → Dm chord transition
To move from Em to Dm;
- Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to B string fret 3.
- Place index finger on E string fret 1.
10. Am → Dm chord transition
To move from Am to Dm;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
- Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 3.
11. Am → Em chord transition
To move from Am to Em;
- While playing Am, lift your index finger from B string fret 1.
- Lift your middle finger from D string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your ring finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
12. C → G7 chord transition
To move from C to G7;
- Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 1.
13. Dm → G7 chord transition
To move from Dm to G7;
- Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
- Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
- Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 1.
14. G7 → G chord transition
To move from G7 to G;
- Keep index finger on A string fret 2.
- Keep middle finger on E string fret 3.
- Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 1 to fret 3.
The Boxer chord transition analysis
A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in The Boxer.
- The Boxer includes 75 chord transitions, 14 of them unique.
- These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
- The Boxer contains 4 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
- These transition patterns show how The Boxer connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
- G → C: 25%
- G → Am: 13%
After C, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (35%), F (16%), and D (11%).- C → G: 35%
- C → Am: 10%