So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
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
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
Lie la lie, lie la la la lie la lie, lie la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, la la la la lie
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
Lie la lie, lie la la la lie la lie, lie la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, la la la la lie
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 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
Lie la lie, lie la la la lie la lie, lie la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, la la la la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, lie la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, la la la la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, lie la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, la la la la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, lie la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, la la la la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, lie la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, la la la la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, lie la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, la la la la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, lie la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, la la la la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, lie la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, la la la la lie
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
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
Lie la lie, lie la la la lie la lie, lie la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, la la la la lie
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
Lie la lie, lie la la la lie la lie, lie la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, la la la la lie
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 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
Lie la lie, lie la la la lie la lie, lie la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, la la la la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, lie la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, la la la la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, lie la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, la la la la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, lie la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, la la la la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, lie la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, la la la la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, lie la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, la la la la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, lie la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, la la la la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, lie la lie
Lie la la la lie la lie, la la la la lie
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Well, I am often cited as being a pessimist; perhaps rightly so...but I interpret this song differently than most.
First, the genre of folk rock music leads me to think that the song is NOT one of hope (or overcoming the despair, loneliness, fear conveyed within the first few verses).
I think it's interesting that the narrator (telling his seldom-told story), prefaces his story by stating that "still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest..." To me, I believe Paul was being ironic, referring to listeners who thought that the "fighter still remains" was a victory or triumph for the boxer. I believe that while the boxer (metaphor) may not leave the ring ("fighter still remains")...that does not signify victory in any sense. I equate it to similar ideas in other P. Simon tunes; like American Tune, or like in America. Songs about unfulfilled dreams (IMO).
Again, some interpret these songs as perservering/overcoming; I read them as the protagonist simply giving in, or worse yet--feeling powerless to overcome unfulfilled hopes/dreams. Giving in, accepting that the dream was just a dream. Songs about acquiescing... If it isn't obvious, my interpretation of this song is sad, while at the same time, comforting. The boxer is not just Paul; it's basically anyone (everyone?). We're all battle weary.... And while we may keep on keeping on, that doesn't mean we're victorious (morally or otherwise).
@UWDawgfather I like you am a pessimist and don't read lyrics for their facade meaning. I have often pondered the "come on from the whores of 7th Avenue" line. If I remember correctly, wasn't or isn't a major record label on 7th Avenue in Manhattan? Musicians are pretty much treated like whores by the pimps (i.e. Record companies who make the lion's share of recording revenues).
@UWDawgfather agree, it is a sad coming of age song, one of despair for a young man. One of the greatest ever, truly underrated, not sure why it isn't recognised more widely for what it is.
@UWDawgfather Actually, I was just at a website today that claimed the song may actually be about Bob Dylan, who was an amateur boxer for a bit, and many of the lyrics sort of fit his life, too. Whether it is true or not is beyond me...just food for thought.
I've heard this verse added a few times, I guess it would be the 4th verse:
Now the years are rolling by me, they are rocking evenly. I am older than I once was, but younger than I'll be. That's not unusual. No, it isn't strange, After changes upon changes, we are more or less the same. After changes we are more or less the same.
It is so ironic that I read through these comments until I find one I agree with (like UWDawgfather's) and forget about the rest.
The melancholy melody tells me it isn't a song about victory at all
The fighter remains because he doesn't have a choice. It is his only way to make a living and he doesn't want do it anymore.
I can remember when SNL came back for the first time after the september 11th attacks. Paul Simon opened the show with this song.
I asked my girlfriend if she wouldn't prefer to hear "America" instead. But she said no, the boxer was the right mood for us. We needed courage and strength, even though we had been beaten down.
Upon reflection, I think she was right.
I just see this as a man who's hopeless, who's not getting what he wanted out of life. He seems to present it as a story no one wants to hear, that doesn't inspire anyone despite it being the brutal reality of many people "still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the life". I think it just shows his best efforts to live on his own despite thinking he can't do it, and this is supported by the boxer metaphor. He's fighting to stay alive and to live on his own, even though all the odds are against him. And every blow he takes just makes him want to go home more, but he can't leave, and so the fighter still remains.
*disregards the rest, sorry, not very good at keeping my words organized, am I?
Actually this song came to Paul as he was on a plane and looking through the bible and saw "workman's wages" and he immediatly started writing and was in a time of depression at the time. Its ALL ABOUT PAUL!!! AS a young man in England, and New York, the boxer is a metaphor for his perserverance.! READ THE WORDS AGAIN.
And I think Paul Simon has litttle over Bob Dylan. He's a bit more direct and doesnt stray the meaning for no reason like Dylan does with Mr Tambourine Man or something. He wont even say waht its about! REspect for Dylan though, still one of the best, but I personally think Paul is better.
The great thing is that nobody actually has to choose between Paul Simon and Bob Dylan. Everyone is free to love both. I know I do!
@sebastianquilt I agree the boxer is a metaphor for his or all of our perseverance, with going home being the shelter from the fight we all face living in the world, earn a living. Also, depending on one's faith, home could mean the everlasting life and the fight to live a righteous life on this earth with the promise of home in heaven as the shelter.
this song carry's so much... anger, sadness, frustration, lonliness, fear, regret, and strength. It's a great fight song about pulling through when everything's against you.
I so agree with you, BlackEyedAngels- I used to sing this song to my babies who are now 18,12, and 10 they all know the song well- "I am leaving, I am leaving but the fighter still remains um hum um ....
It's a semi biographical piece from Paul Simon. Fantastic song but needs to be considered with the removed verse:
Now the years are rolling by me They are rocking evenly I am older than I once was Younger than I'll be, that's not unusual. No, it isn't strange After changes upon changes We are more or less the same After changes we are more or less the same
I'm noticing a lot of similarities to J.D. Salinger's "Catcher In the Rye".
Just throwing that out there.
This is true in terms of the song being about a lonely boy in New York City who visits prostitutes, but the first line of the song alone, "I am just a poor boy," marks a strong difference between the lives of Holden Caulfield and "the Boxer." Though he experienced tragedy in the form of the early death of his brother Allie, Holden was a privileged young man from a wealthy family who had the luxury of attending multiple preparatory schools. Furthermore, Holden possesses none of the skills of endurance which form the metaphor of the Boxer, which leads to his constant failure in school (he even admits he lacks the ability to "apply himself") and his ultimate commitment to a psychiatric hospital.
This song might be about the Prodigal Son in the Bible, but I think there are probably a lot of correlations to the narrator, or probably Paul Simon himself, going out on his own as a young man. My favorite part is the following: '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.' That, to me, conjures up an image of a young person who moves to the big city (NYC) to embark on his dream. He gets homesick but that's the sacrifice he made to go after what he believed in.