"Still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest". Still one of the greatest lines in any song.

It’s a metaphor for someone who is struggling and gets knocked down but keeps getting up again. He cries out that he is leaving and going back home but he doesn’t. He stays and continues to keep fighting to survive in NYC. Simon is such a poet. His songwriting has so many awards and honors.

The human struggle getting knocked around over and over .This song honors the struggle instead of vilification of people

"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 till he cried out In his anger and his shame "I am leaving, I am leaving" But the fighter still remains" Pure inspirational poetry at it's finest.

Honestly, the more I hear this song, the more I'm convinced it's one of the best songs of all time.

I first heard this at 17 and I knew I’d still be listening when I was old. I’m 70 now, I was right. Paul Simon is truly one of only a few troubadours left on the planet. Just a quiet giant..

The Boxer is a metaphor for a man’s struggles.

"Bridge over troubled water" is one of the best songs ever

Paul Simon is one of the greatest American songwriters of all time. You'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who disagrees with this. Also, he sang on "We Are The World" just before Kenny Rogers. He was the short, dark-haired guy.

It's one story. He is a metaphorical boxer - the fighter who keeps getting beat down, who feels frightened & ashamed and even though he might leave & go home, the fighter remains & will fight again

Paul Simon was the poet of our time.

From Wikipedia: During a New York City concert in October 2010, Paul Simon stopped singing midway through "The Boxer" to tell the story of a woman who stopped him on the street to tell him that she edits the song when singing it to her young child. Simon told the audience that she removed the words "the whores" and altered the song to say, "I get no offers, just a come-on from toy stores on Seventh Avenue." Simon laughingly commented that he felt that it was "a better line."

Bass harmonica, then piccolo trumpet, "explosive" sounds made with a snare drum in an empty elevator shaft. Lie, lie, lie, was originally just a placeholder when Simon was writing the song, but he finally decided he liked it - with the reference to all the lies told the boxer.

Paul Simon revealed in an 1984 interview that he wrote "The Boxer" when critics were writing harsh things about his music - he was "the boxer." According to Simon: "I think the song was about me: everybody's beating me up, and I'm telling you now I'm going to go away if you don't stop. By that time we had encountered our first criticism. For the first few years, it was just pure praise. It took two or three years for people to realize that we weren't strange creatures that emerged from England, but just two guys from Queens who used to sing rock 'n' roll. And maybe we weren't real folkies at all! Maybe we weren't even hippies!" The Boxer took over 100 hours to record, and was recorded about a year before the album was released. Btw, the phrases "workman's wages" and "seeking out the poorer quarters" come from Bible passages. Simon would occasionally read the Bibe when staying in hotels. In addition, Simon used the phrase "lie la lie" in place of a proper chorus, because he couldn't find the right words. Of course, "lie la lie" became one of the most recognizable parts of this song. 😄

I wrote Simon and Garfunkel song lyrics (poetry) on my bedroom walls as a teenager, thank you to my mom for allowing my expression 😊

I've always thought the boxer in the final verse was a metaphor. We all carry "the reminder of every glove that laid him down or cut him 'til he cried out in his anger and his shame." And we can move on, or move up, but everything that came before still remains inside us.

I would also recommend Scarborough Fair - it is based on an old English folk song. However it is sung with two verses being simultaneously sung throughout most of the song. One is a love song, and one is a song about men being sent off to war to die. That juxtaposition makes the song both beautiful and haunting at the same time. Many people heard it and thought "How beautiful!" but at the same time it has a dark anti-war undertone appropriate for the Vietnam war era.

'AMERICA' is a social statement like 'The Boxer'

It's a great song about the resilience of the common man.

Back then a lot of musicians was also poets. That's why their songs was more meaningful on a personal level.

Simon and Garfunkel- Bridge Over Troubled Waters. Banger vocals, banger hook, banger lyrics telling an epic message.

A classic. As an Englishman I do believe that Paul Simon is America’s greatest singer/songwriter.

Paul Simon is a genius !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Continue down the rabbit hole: Bridge Over Troubled Water, Scarborough Fair, Cecilia, I Am a Rock. List keeps going.

The album "Bridge Over Troubled Water" was Simon & Garfunkel's last studio album, released in 1970. But what a way to go out with an BANG!!! The title track of this album won an unprecedented five Grammy Awards, while the complete record won Album of the Year. The album stayed at #1 for 10 weeks, remained on the chart for a total of 85 weeks, and has been certified 8X platinum. In addition to the title track, the album includes the hits “The Boxer” (which you just heard), “Cecilia,” “El Condor Pasa (If I Could),” and my personal favorite, “The Only Living Boy In New York.” Just an amazing album from start to finish, with all songs written by Paul Simon, except for "Bye Bye Love", which was written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, and was previously a hit for the Everly Brothers.

The truly brilliant Paul Simon has never written a bad song! With Art Garfunkel he's amazing, singing solo he's also amazing! Pick anyone of his creations, you will not be disappointed.

Paul Simon played this song to open the first episode of snl after 9.11. it was less than 3 weeks after and a statement that NYC wasn't going to be silenced. It was inspiring.

Simon and Garfunkel "El Condor Pasa" is a must, one of my many favs. Been a fan for over 50 years.

On the first episode of SNL after 9/11, Paul Simon sang this song to the audience with Mayor Rudy Guiliani with him onstage. It was one of the best performances I've ever seen.

I know a lot of music and this is my favorite Simon and Garfunkel song! The older you get, the more The Boxer means.

I remember when I first heard this song. I was about 13. I was blown away. Reality hitting me squarely between the eyes and this is the absolute result of a song so beautifully written that it transcends even the immaturity of a pre-teenage girl over 50 years ago.

Ride a NYC subway and you will "hear" this song. The beat of the points and the reverb of the tunnels. Phenomenal lyrics, but capturing a subway ride in music, . . . next level genius.

Paul Simon once said he goes into the tile bathroom, lays on the floor, letting the water flow in the sink, and let's the "silence" inspire his writing skills. Thus, his lyrics from "Sound of Silence." He is truly a genius composer.

"I have squandered my resistance For a pocketful of mumbles Such are promises"

Hope you play Simon and Garfunkle "AMERICA", great song, thinking you will really enjoy the lyrics and the tune. ❤️👍

Paul Simon was the guy you didn’t recognize in We Are The World that was singing with Kenny Rogers. Simon and Garfunkel and Paul Simon are both worthy rabbit holes to go down

Their song "The Dangling Conversation" is one of the most poetically written songs ever. S & G never disappoint.

Great song, doesnt matter what generation hears it, it will always be relevant

So fortunate to be part of the boomer generation who created the best music.

Garfunkel is of Romanian-Jewish descent. Whatever his descent, he has such a beautiful and memorable voice. Many musicians and actors change their names when entering the public eye, but I love how he kept his name!

I really recommend you listen to Simon and Garfunkel’s song “America”. It’s fantastic!

Can't go wrong with Simon and Garfunkel. They have a monster catalog. You hit the vein of this kind of music already with Neil Diamond. Sound of Silence is probably their biggest hit. You should also check out Jim Croce (Time in a Bottle and Bad bad Leroy Brown) and Harry Chapin (Cat's in the Cradle)a perfect parent song

Paul Simon has SO MANY great songs! But I have a soft spot for "Kodachrome". LOVE IT! It's a solo from him. And Art Garfunkel has a GORGEOUS song from a solo project that is one of the most sadly melodic songs I think I've ever heard called "All I Know".

My favorite S&G song is "I Am A Rock". "For a rock feels no pain and and island never cries"

These songs of the 70’s can be therapeutic.

it's all the same person. the guy left home to make his fortune in the city, couldn't find work. took the opportunity to make some cash as a prize fighter. wishing he was home he crys out "IM LEAVING" ,but he cant go home out of his embarrassment

A niece of mine was a professor of antiquities at CSU. At one point she was in a London library researching when someone she knew from the US came to look at the same books. She couldn't quite place where she knew him from so, she asked him if he was from Sterling, Colorado. He said, "no". She then asked if he was from Ft. Collins, Colorado. He said, "no". She told him she knew she knew him from somewhere. He stuck out his and and said, "I think you know me as Art Garfunkel."

One of my favorite albums is Paul Simon's Graceland! He's an incredibly prolific writer and performer. May I suggest The Sound of Silence?

Paul Simon's song writing is second to none.

The harmonies are underappreciated in this song but the production and his fingerpicking on the guitar are top tier.

Another classic to check out from them Bridge Over Trouble Water

Simon is a genius. Try his later stuff- Graceland, Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes

So many amazing songs... Mrs Robinson, Sound of Silence, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Scarboarough Fair, 59th St Bridge Song, America, The Only Living Boy in New York... and Simon solo - Kodachrome etc

The Boxer is my favorite song by them. The melodies are just amazing.

My first father-in-law was a Birmingham police officer and worked as AC/DC's personal security. He cut up with them, at the end of the show he was paid and they tip him a $1000. He expressed his gratefulness and as he left he told them to be careful and to be good. He went to work that night and had been on duty for about 3 or 4 hours and then got a call at a hotel about loud music, underage drinking, and drugs. He was a Lieutenant and was training a rookie, so everything had to be done by the book. When he got there, I'm sure you've guessed by now that it was AC/DC. He came in they geeted him, he said hello too, but then he told them they were all under arrest. They pleaded and said Officer ××××× you were just taking care of us, we thought we were friends. He told them yes and he appreciated the tip, but I was working for you then, but now I'm working for the city of Birmingham. Needless to say, they went to jail with no hard feelings. They actually told him they understood that he just had to do his job. Just like he had done his job for them. Just thought it was a cool story to share.

The boxer could be a metaphor for anyone who takes their hits but the fighter remains.

Now you've done it! The library is deep for the music of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel (both together and solo). I would recommend the deeply nostalgic song "America" as well as "Mrs. Robinson", and "The Sounds of Silence". And then you got about 4 decades of solo music for Paul Simon. I would point to "Graceland", "You Can Call Me Al", "Still Crazy After All These Years", and "Late in the Evening" as a place to start on the solo music.

Absolutely beautiful music. Paul Simon is one of the top 3 best songwriters in my opinion. Alongside Jim Croce and Bob Dylan. So many good folk artists. One ofy all time favourite folk songs is Leader Of The Band by Dan Fogelberg. My father passed away in 2019 after battling Alzheimers for 13 years. He was diagnosed young at 57 years old. I spoke to him at his funeral and told him all my memories of listening to his vinyl. And one of the fondest ones is when I was about 4 or 5 sitting in his knee and playing Leader Of The Band on vinyl record and him singing me the words. So I learned it as best as I could those few days before his funeral and played it for him. If you ever decide to listen to it I know you will love it. Just from watching you Black Pegasus I can see your sense of family and your strong fatherly convictions. It really is refreshing. I know this song will grab hold of you like it does me. Give it a try one day

Thank you for your reaction. Paul Simon was one of the major poets of his generation. In fact, I studied his poetry (songs) in university. By the way, you could listen to album after album by these two and have the same reaction you are having now. Please listen to more of them. Also, Paul Simon went on to have a solo career, it has spanned all these many years.

Art Garfunkel is so underrated. He has the voice of an angel. Seriously.

Paul Simon is probably the greatest songwriter of all time

Garfunkel was just a lovely voice. Paul Simon is the everything and for decades. He is brilliant.

The sound effect that is used throughout the song of the boxing glove hitting flesh is just amazing.

Folk Rock! Paul Simon is a genius. Simon and Garfunkel was my jam in my youth. 1969, front row to the Bridge Over Troubled Water tour. They were fantastic live.

Art of folk rock…. Is storytelling. Paul Simon an incredible poet and storyteller. Together with Art Garfunkel’s vocals. Just wow.

Simon is a perfectionist, "The Boxer" took 100 hours to record. He was unhappy with the drums so he set up recording in a church to get the echoing bombastic drum sound. "Lie, lie, lie, were only place keepers for more lyrics, but they liked it and kept it.

One of their best (released in 1969). They had a string of hit songs before going their separate ways, including "Mrs. Robinson", "Sound of Silence", "I Am a Rock" & "El Condor Pasa". Art Garfunkel has a BA in Art History and an MA in Mathematical Teaching.

My guess would be that Garfunkel is a German name. Just a guess. These two guys made some of the most beautiful music ever recorded during the 60’s and 70’s. Their harmonies are legendary. Paul Simon went on to dazzle the world with amazing music as a solo artist. He’s still doing it too. 🌺✌️

I'm amazed that you hadn't reacted to this already. Might be my favorite Simon and Garfunkel song

The name Garfunkel has its roots in German, specifically from the Middle High German word gar meaning precious stone or garnet, and funkel meaning brilliant.

Bridge Over Troubled Water and Sound of Silence are two more of their songs you should listen to. Everything by Simon and Garfunkel is worth listening to.

They were a big part of my youth and still are today

You got it bro. It's a metaphor for struggle and hardship. Now listen to their track America. Another beautiful story.

This melody is peppy and melancholic and haunting, all at the same time, and the end has this crushing weight to it- it's a punch to the gut.

The crashing drum sound during the chorus was recorded by a snare drum being struck as hard as it could at the opening of an elevator shaft giving it the sound of a cannon shot. The song was written by Simon at a time in his life where he was being criticized unfairly. The poverty and loneliness theme pervades through the song

Simon and Garfunkel are their own genre. They did what they wanted, and didn't care what it was called, just that it was true and beautiful. If you want a real slap in the face, listen to their song "Save the life of my child". Hard to listen to, hard to process. But worth it.

It is up to you what it means, Paul Simon is an amazing songwriter still going today. Deep hole there enjoy

.....the drum sound you heard is a snare drum with tons of reverb on it. In those days the studios would use a device called a 'reverb tank' to get that rich sounding reverb. The weird bass sound is from a bass harmonica and when the orchestra comes in near the end you also heard the tuba, a bass horn. There was a string section that plays thru and you heard violins, violas and cellos. There might be a bass fiddle in this section, too.... 🤠

It's a cymbal crash, lightning crashing. Paul Simon is a master lyricist, timeless, classic. "i have squandered my resistence for a pocketful of mumbles, such are promises."

This is definitely a haunting song from my childhood. ❤

Paul Simon sang in "USA For Africa" video, he was in the beginning and you didn't know who he was. A lot of their work together and solo revolves around social issues and they were quite active in supporting causes.

Paul Simon is an incredible writer. Art Garfunkel has the voice of an angel.

One of the best lyricist ever!

The Boxer is actually My Favorite Simon & Garfunkle Song

Metaphorically the character is “the boxer” taking punches, throwing them and just generally working his way through a tough life…the song hits because on some level, we can all relate

The guitar is so simple, yet incredibly beautiful. Love this song top to bottom. One of my all time favorite. Never get tired of listening to it

Paul Simon, the first you say "who is he?" in We are the world! Well done! 😍😍😍

Bridge over troubled water is a must my friend .Great reaction as usual my friend and Peace out ✌️ ☮️

The lyrics are metaphorical. The song is a brutal takedown of the songwriting industry. One of the clues to that is verse talking about thte whores on 7th Ave. There were no prostitutes working that area. What was there were the offices of record comppany executives, including Columbia Records, the label Simon and Garfunkel were signed to. Simon also wrote songs for sale sometimes in his earlier years, and the main song factories in New York were only a few blocks away (including the Brill Building, where Simon had occasionally worked). The low honking sound you keep hearing is a bass harmonica. And the huge hit, like a punch in the head of a boxer, was legendary drummer Hal Blaine in the hallway of Columbia Records, with the elevator stuck on an upper floor, the doors open, and a microphone suspended at the bottom of the elevator shaft. Boom.

That's the genius of Paul Simon, poet, composer, arranger, producer, musician and singer. Along with the angelic voice of Art Garfunkel. IMHO Paul Simon is second only to Bob Dylan. There were no videos when they were a duo - 1964 to 1971 - and because of production values, always choose their studio version over a recording of a live concert performance. This is their final album, and a masterpiece. Every song on it is brilliant, especially the title song Bridge Over Troubled Water.

There are a national treasure!!! All of their songs are poetry immersed in magical music!!

Love Simon and Garfunkel! They have so many amazing songs! Homeward bound, Cecilia, Sound of silence, Bridge over troubled water, Mrs Robinson, & Scarborough fair are a few of thier more popular songs! Paul Simon also has an amazing solo career as well! One of my favorites is You can call me Al! It features Chevy Chase in the video!

This is one of my favourite S&G songs, 'The Boxer', it's so beautiful and it really tells a story doesn't it? I know you've done a reaction to Disturbed's version of 'Sound of Silence', I don't think you've done the S&G original of this song, I recommend it, it's fabulous. Other fav songs are 'Homeward Bound', 'I am a Rock', 'Mrs Robinson' and of course the wonderful 'Bridge Over Troubled Water', there are so many fantastic songs! 😊😊

Their song 'America' makes me feel so nostalgic and i dont know why. Ive never seen their world, but it makes me miss it all the same.

Love almost every song of S&G but this one is my favorite, along with America. This crescendo, that also happens in Bridge of troubled waters is simply phenomenal!❤

I am big into lyrics/lyricism, and S&G are straight dope when it comes to verbiage and making poetry with music involved. Great pick! Definitely captures the raw human experience, and critiques the class divide.

Actually this entire album , this tune , Sound of Silence , Bridge Over Troubled Water ....a real keeper of an album .!!!!

This is one of my favorite songs from their huge catalog.

This is like Picasso and Van Gogh working together on their painting , and this is one of their paintings that came out of that ! Some other of their artworks are " Bridge over troubled water " , " El Condor Pasa " ," Scarborough Fair " , " the sound of silence " and " Mrs Robinson "

The name Garfunkel is of German origin but Art was born in Queens NY, of Romanian-Jewish decent. I absolutely love these two (childhood friends) together, but they also had great solo careers, Paul Simon was more musically prolific, I guess because Art spent a lot of his time being odd, interesting and super smart. He has several degrees (the Simon and Garfunkel song "So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright" draws on his time studying architecture at Columbia). I love also that the pair drew on each others' experiences to make poetry and music (you'd have to read the renowned BLIND political scientist, philanthropist and inventor, Sanford Greenberg's autobiography "Hello Darkness, My Old Friend" to really understand where the inspiration for that one particular line came from. Greenberg was Garfunkel's college room mate while Simon and Garfunkel were kind of on-and-offing it as a duo). As for Paul Simon - just so much. The whole Graceland album... where to start??