The Boxer

I am just a poor boy

Though my story's seldom told

I have squandered my resistance

For a pocket full of mumbles, such are promises

All lies and jests

Still a man hears what he wants to hear

And disregards the rest

Mm-hm-mm-mm

Mm-hm-mm-mm

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

Running scared

Laying low, seeking out the poorer quarters

Where the ragged people go

Looking for the places

Only they would know

Lai-la-lai, lai-la-la-la-lai-lai-lai

Lai-la-lai, lai-la-la-lai-la-lai-lai-la-la-la-lai

Asking only workman's wages

I come looking 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

La-la-la-la-la-la-la

Lai-la-lai, lai-la-la-la-lai-lai-lai

Lai-la-lai, lai-la-la-lai-la-lai-lai-la-la-la-lai

Then I'm laying out my winter clothes

And wishing I was gone

Going home

Where the New York City winters

Aren't bleeding me

Leading me

Going home

In the clearing stands a boxer

And a fighter by his trade

And he carries the reminders

Of every blow that laid him down

Or cut him till he cried out

In his anger and his shame

I am leaving, I am leaving

But the fighter still remains

Hmm-mm-mm-mm

Hmm-mm-mm-mm

Lai-la-lai, lai-la-la-la-lai-lai-lai

Lai-la-lai, lai-la-la-lai-la-lai-lai-la-la-la-lai

Lai-la-lai, lai-la-la-la-lai-lai-lai

Lai-la-lai, lai-la-la-lai-la-lai-lai-la-la-la-lai

Lai-la-lai, lai-la-la-la-lai-lai-lai

Lai-la-lai, lai-la-la-lai-la-lai-lai-la-la-la-lai

Lai-la-lai, lai-la-la-la-lai-lai-lai

Lai-la-lai, lai-la-la-lai-la-lai-lai-la-la-la-lai