The Boxer (Simon and Garfunkel) free harmonica lesson and tabs

Hello! In today's harmonica lesson we're learning to play The Boxer by Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel on a C harmonica. (You will need a B harmonica to play along with the record, although there are live versions which they have sung in different keys.) This is suitable for beginners, as it has no bends. There are lots of notes though so get comfy!

Here are the free tabs:

6 6 6 6 6 5 5 -5 6 6 7 -7 -6

I am just a poor boy though my story's seldom told

-6 -6 -6 6 6 6 6 -4

I have squandered my resistance

-4 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 4 -4 -5 5 4

For a pocketful of mumbles, such are promises

7 7 -7 7

All lies and jest

7 7 7 -7 -7 -7 -7 -6 -6

Still the man hears what he wants to hear

-6 -6 -6 -6 6 6

And disregards the rest

6 6 6 -4 -5 -5 5 -4 5 6

(Humming)

When I left my home and my family…

7 -7 7

Lie la lie

7 7 7 -7 -7 -6 6

Lie la lie la lie la lie

7 -7 7

Lie la lie

-8 8 -9 8 -8 7 -8 7 7 7 -7 7

Lie la LA la lie la lie la la la la lie

5 -5 6 6 6 6 6 5

Asking only workman's wages

5 5 -5 5 -4 4 5

I come looking for a job

5 5 5 5 5 -4

But I get no offers

-4 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 4 -4 -5 5 5

Just a come-on from the whores on Seventh Avenue

I do declare…

5 -5 6 6 6 6 6 -5 5 5 6 7 7 -7 -6

Then I'm laying out my winter clothes & wishing I was gone

-6 5 6

Going home

-4 5 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 4 -4 -5 5 5

Where the New York City winters are-n't bleeding me

7 -7 6 -6 -6 5 6

Leading me-ee, going home

5 -5 6 6 6 6 6 5

In the clearing stands a boxer

5 -5 6 6 7 -7 -6

And a fighter by his trade

-6 -7 -6 6 6 -6 6 -4

And he carries the reminders

-4 -5 -5 -5 -5 -5 5 4

Of ev'ry glove that laid him down

-4 -5 5 4 -4 -5 5

Or cut him till he cried out

6 6 6 7 7 -7 7

In his anger and his shame

7 7 7 -7 -7 -7 -7 -6

I am leaving, I am leaving

-6 -6 -6 -6 -6 6 6

But the fighter still remains

Lie la lie…

Thanks for following this harmonica lesson. I hope you enjoyed it!

Free 30 day trial of my harmonica school

If you are keen to improve your playing, start your free trial of my harp school today...

Click here for more details