"Still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest." I'm in my 60s and have had so many experiences reinforcing the truth of this line.

I am leaving I am leaving But the fighter still remains. That entire verse but especially those last lines always bring a flood of emotion, evoking times I lost the fight but not the desire to continue.

Fun fact; The drum impact, what you called hitting a punching bag, was made by recording in the lobby of the studio, and using an open elevator shaft to create that echo. Since synthesizers weren't around then, artists had to get very creative to make the unique sounds we still enjoy today.

It's pretty hard to have a favorite Simon and Garfunkel song, although I have probably listened to this one more than any other. Paul didn't think it was necessary to write a chorus because the verses were so rich and deep.

Paul's songwriting and guitar virtuosity are second to none. The man is truly a national treasure. A must listen is the song "Under African Skies" off his 1986 release Graceland. The entire album is sooo good, but this track in particular is otherworldly.

This is album is a masterpiece with hidden gems like El Condor Pasa, Keep the Customer Satisfied, So Long Frank Lloyd Wright, and The Only Living Boy in New York

I’ve always taken “the fighter still remains” to mean he’s lost the battle but he’s still fighting the war.

That bass harmonica and steel guitar in the middle gives it such grand color. Let alone the vocals and the lyrics.

It really is a perfect song.

I got tears in my eyes listening to this great song from my years way back!👍👏👏👏💙

I always took that as the blows reigning down on the boxer and him punching back. And the metaphor is that we are all boxers as we have all fought through adversity and are still standing if we are here listening to this reaction. I am leaving, I am leaving, but the fighter still remains. Brilliant lyrics, awesome music and vocals. Great, great tune. That's when you know you have great lyrics. When it means so many different things to so many people.

The first album I ever owned...1976 I got my first HiFi stereo for my 8th birthday & my mom gave me this album that she played relentlessly and then so did I😊

The ending of this song with its building crescendo makes it so powerful. Just overwhelms one's senses.

Great job! A masterpiece that I’ve been listening to for 50 years. Paul Simon is one of those geniuses with the ability to turn every song he creates to gold. I’ve watched many first reactions to the song and done are better at interpreting than others. Because of so many interesting instrument, harmonies and the general arrangement, most people don’t notice ( or at least never comment) on the full orchestra in the last segment of the sing as it crescendos. The majority of the song is guitar with creative use of bass harmonica, steel guitar, piccolo trumpet, and reverb snare drum. Thanks for keeping this amazing and legendary song alive and remembered.

Favorite S&G song. Thank you. It's pretty special. "The fighter still remains"

One of the best produced records of all time. Dig that bass harmonica.

Your content is outstanding! Subscribed and looking forward to your journey! -- "Embrace your potential to navigate your remarkable journey."

You'll notice that the great guitar playing held on and never let go. All kinds of instruments were coming in, building to that awesome crescendo. But the fingerpicking kept it all together, and in the end the guitar won out and finished well.

You've now heard what a bass harmonica sounds like.

Can't go wrong with Simon and Garfunkel. Check out Scarborough fair. Peace ✌️

One of the very highest points in my life was Paul Simon performing this, solo, at the apron of the stage, on the "Born at the Right Time" tour. It was just him and his guitar, and every time he sang "Lie la lie" the audience made the percussion sound, saying "Tschhhh!". It was so powerful, it took me to another place. Like I said, it's in the maybe top 5 powerful experiences of my life.

This song, to me, is the story of a young man leaving home and venturing out on his own. This leads me to a classic "You Can Never Go Home Again" song, that I deeply love for the pain of losing a family. Try "Pop Tops - Mammy Blue (1971)".

Been loving these songs forever, so it doesn't surprise me they are being rediscovered by people like yourself - I envy you hearing the songs of my youth for the first time! "Turn of the Century" by "YES" is a must to continue your prog journey. Peace.

Some people criticized his writing as fluff and somewhat immature. Boy did he prove them wrong. One of the great American songwriters, period.

‎˚₊⋆｡‧˚ This song is an essential paver in the path of my adolescence. ˚‧｡⋆‎₊˚ Everyone who came of age when I did knows every single word of almost every single Simon & Garfunkel song. Thanks for giving this one a little more air time.

Everything about this song is just epic, so emotional and my favourite song by the boys

Paul Simon is an amazing songwriter

No one has done Scarborough Fair-have loved that since the moment it came out

Such a good song. ❤

Absolutely one of the greatest albums ever published. Every song on it is a pure masterpiece.

That build up at the end just screams defiance. "I am leaving I am leaving but the fighter still remains". Jackson Browne and Paul Simon... Two of the great singer-songwriters of a generation in one afternoon. Nice.👍

A lot of folks suggested Scarborough Fair, but, when (not if) you do it, it should be Scarborough Fair/Canticle to really get the full impact of the song.

That deep boom sound was from the great drummer Hal Bain from the famous sessions band The Wrecking Crew.

Paul Simon is often mentioned in the pantheon of great singer-songwriters, but not enough recognition is given to his guitar-playing- he's a virtuoso, IMHO!

Thank you Shawn for letting the outro play, most idiots ignore it, I think it's the best ever outro 🤩

Pertinent and Powerful ❤

Beautiful...

A legendary tune that one can feel the sweat and heartache from this fighter struggling to survive in a brutal world!in fact Paul, as a solo artist became an even bigger superstar as after one year when Stevie Wonder to a break from doing an album Paul won Grammy of the year for his album Still Crazy After All These Years!

When you actually read the way S and G created the various sounds heard on the cut .....you will be amazed .......e.g. they used an elevator shaft for one such sound ..

I love the line a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest! Good one! Thanks✌️

Paul Simon is one of the greatest songwriters of all time, behind only that of Bob Dylan. He most certainly deserves a Nobel Prize.

The crashing sound was a type writer thrown down a lift shaft

This entire album is a masterpiece. I recommend you check out "El Condor Pasa", "Cecilia", "So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright" and "The Only Living Boy in New York".

A fantastic "runaway " song by Paul Simon is "Duncan" from his 2nd solo album.

Looking forward to you reacting to Don McLean's "American Pie" one day. Hopefully soon.

The Boxer and Bridge over Troubled Waters are 2 of my favorites.

The "lie lie lie" is exactly what it means....the boxer that was leaving was never leaving, everything was a lie.

What can you say, Paul Simon was one of the premier song writers of the 60's, right their with Dylan, and he could certainly sing better. So much great music from these guys .My favorite song from him is Iam A Rock. A dark sardonic song to be sure, Paul was not in a good place when he wrote that one, for good or bad it hits home with me. America is another dynamic tune you might enjoy....be well

IMO, Paul's lyrics are second only to Bob Dylan's in complexity, beauty, and truth about the human condition.

Some of the best lyrics ever.

Best S&G song you've done so far. May I suggest America and American Tune by just Paul Simon himself. For their early stuff Scarborough Fair is a favorite of mine as is Patterns and Homeward Bound.

This is primarily a Paul Simon production. Art went off to Mexico to take part in the film Catch 22. ( c/f Only living boy in New York.) Paul went to extreme lengths to get the sounds he wanted. Recording in a church to get echoes, and beating a drum in a lift shafts to get massive reverb. It took months to do, but the result was worth it. Their tracks ere often well crafted, and thought about. Try their take on Scarborough Fair.

My Childhood... LUCKY ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One of their best. No lie. lie. lie.

pure ear candy

My favorite S&G song. Another good one that gets some airplay in stadiums is Cecilia.

I've always interpreted it as a glove hitting a punching bag. Another epic crescendo! You can't go wrong with S&G! "America" is another great song. But, anyway, all their songs are great!

There is a missing verse. Simon and Garfunkel usually add this following verse when they play live. Now the years are rolling by me They are rockin' evenly I am older than I once was And younger than I'll be and 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've never been sure when he sings "Lie, lie, lie" if he's lying to us or lying to himself. Or being told to lie down.

One of the greatest laments of all time...

HEY NOWWWWW, VERY NICE GIB, VERY NICE!!!👍😊

Imagine entering show with 2 paper tablets n just letting it all unfold

👍👍👍👍👍

I am a rock

☮️💙💙💙🔥🔥🔥😎

🌿♥️🇳🇿

I have heard some say that the Boxer is Paul Simon. The fighter still remains.

Probably my favorite S&G song. And though a minor point, I love playing the intro notes on guitar.

SO much better than their "The Kickboxer"!

Being a folk singer in the 60s inevitably meant being compared to Dylan. Dylan is a generational talent, while Paul Simon is "merely" great. Some critics unfairly, in my opinion, criticized him.

Thanks, this is a good one.

The boxer is one of my favorites

♥