S&G's "The Boxer" - Lie, lie, lie, lie, lie

Today, I'm going to take on The Boxer, a song by Simon and Garfunkel which was written back in 1970. By "take on" I mean: after having wrestled with The Boxer, I can offer a unique interpretation of what its lyrics might mean, had they been written today.

Hear the song on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdKjEHfHINQ

First the Lyrics:

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

How I squandered my resistance for a pocketful of mumbles,

Such are promises

All lies and jest, 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 a railway station, running' scared

Laying low, seeking out the poorer quarters, where the ragged people go

Looking for the places only they would know.

[REFRAIN]: Lie, lie, lie.

Lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie.

Lie, lie, lie.

Lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie, lie.

Lie, lie, lie, lie, lie.

Asking only workman's wages, I come lookin' for a job, but I get no offers
Just a come on from the whores on 7^th avenue

I do declare, there were times when I was so lonesome

I took some comfort there.

Lie, lie, lie.

And I'm laying out my winter clothes, wishing I was gone, goin' home

Where the New York City winters aren't bleedin' me, leadin' 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.

Yes he still remains.

[REFRAIN]

Interpretation by Steven Searle

"Poor boy" means two things in this song:

ONE: All of us Americans, in that we are "poor" in spiritual terms. We are becoming increasingly dispirited or (in many cases) "morally bankrupt." Some are poorer than others, but almost all of us are indeed poor, in terms of not speaking out against U.S. aggression. I'm also thinking of how many people voted in 2004, for instance in the key state of Ohio, to re-elect Bush for the most selfish of reasons: The promise of access to cheap oil once we manage to ["quickly," we were assured] "stabilize" Iraq.

TWO: "Poor boy" also refers to the financially challenged who enlist in the military.

"My story's seldom told" means:

We don't like to tell the story of our (ongoing) national slide into moral bankruptcy. Instead, we create a myth about being on a mission from God to save the world, whereas thinly-disguised selfishness and greed are in reality at play. Also, the story of the poor/destitute is seldom told, since we much prefer indulging in tales of superheroes, American Idols, and those who are legends in their own minds.

"Squandered my resistance" means:

Giving up our good common sense (or "sales resistance") in exchange for nothing clearly expressed ("mumbles"). However, even if our leaders had "clearly expressed" themselves, they could not be held to account in a court of law for violating an oral contract. Politicians cannot be held to their promises, neither those in writing nor those spoken. I have, however, detailed on this blog certain creative ways in which politicians could enter into enforceable, written contracts. If they really wanted to. But they don't. Though I do...and I'm the only candidate for office who ever has.

"Squandered" means to cause to disperse. Instead of "dispersing" our resistance, we as a people should have gone into Solidarity mode. That is by, instead, concentrating our resistance. This would have been the only way to slam the brakes on the Neo-Cons, with a massive Polish-type Solidarity resistance. However, our Oligarchs (capably represented by Barack and Hillary...hell, all the Dems/Pubs) have become quite adept at dividing and conquering us. Truly, they would fear our unity.

"Pocketful of mumbles" means:

The "pocket" being referred to is "the politician's mouth." These are "deep pockets" indeed, in terms of being a bottomless well of things indistinctly expressed ("mumbles").

"Such are promises, All lies and jest" means:

To "jest" means to speak or act without seriousness. Anyone can promise (or "jest"), but such utterances should be treated as being "all lies," unless either backed up by an enforceable contract or coming from an impeccable person (by definition, not a Pub or a Dem).

"Still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest" means:

It's so true: The electorate doesn't really "hear" (critically evaluate) what our leaders say [just think: “Change you can believe in”]. They pick and choose (what pushes their buttons) and "disregard the rest."

"When I left my home and my family, I was no more than a boy" means:

"When I left the true source of my values (home, family, church), I was young and innocent and placed my trust in the false prophets who are our political leaders. I learned to say ‘Yes, sir,' [or, referring to the electorate, I learned to go along and trust them] and their goals became my goals."

"In the company of strangers" means:

Think of "a company [that is, military unit] of soldiers." Even the word "company" (in the military sense of the word) might come to undergo a change of definition. Maybe, in the future, after a few more foreign military adventures, "a company of soldiers" might come to literally and exclusively mean an association of persons for carrying on a commercial or industrial enterprise. The way our troops were used in Iraq (and are currently being used in Afghanistan) very strongly heralds this alternate definition.

In another sense, all of us Americans are "in the company of strangers" in terms of how poorly we communicate with each other. Paul Simon's song Sound of Silence works that theme rather nicely.

"In the quiet of a railway station" means:

The "railway station" here refers to Iraq, which is (in terms of the Project for the New American Century) merely a way station (that is, an intermediate stopping place - as on a railroad). What comes next, after we leave this way station? Iran, of course. Oh, lest I overlook something: We will never completely leave our Iraqi way station, but the idea is for most of our troops to be able to leave so as to push on to the next way station.

[NOTE: Since April of 2007, when I originally posted this piece, that “next way station” turned out to be Afghanistan in terms of our military surge there – thanks, Barack!]

How can Iraq be considered a "quiet" railway station? That's easy. Most of Iraq is, relatively speaking, very quiet ... in the ways that count. Most serious attacks occur in only a few places within Iraq's borders. The "quiet" I'm referring to, though, involves the ignored voices of the Iraqi citizen who has no voice as far as our leaders are concerned. Democracy is just a word, since only the voices of Iraqi leaders and opinion-makers (especially, the corrupt ones) are heard by our leaders. And those voices are heard in secret, behind closed doors, away from public scrutiny. So, yes, Iraq is a very "quiet railway station" indeed.

The Boxer's next 20 words ("laying low" through "they would know"):

Our soldier would sometimes have to be "runnin' scared" and sometimes would have to be "laying low." He would be "seeking out the poor quarters (where the insurgency is strongest), where the “ragged people go” (sounds like he’s singing: “rag head people;” many of our troops call the insurgents - in fact, all locals - "rag heads," referring to their traditional head-covering), looking for the places only they would know (the secret hiding places which locals could attack from or retreat to)." Our troops would be "looking for [those] places" in order to kill the insurgents.

In terms of the U.S. electorate, too many of us are "laying low," instead of boldly challenging the Neo-Cons and their false religion of world conquest. We are "seeking out the poorer quarters," in terms of how more and more of us are being pushed into difficult financial straits as individuals and as a nation, due to how surely our wars are bankrupting us.

We are becoming "the ragged people," that is worn out from stress and strain. There are certain places (in the mind) where "ragged people" "go" (that is, to retreat from reality). More and more of us are seeking those places, which are better known to the mentally unstable. Perhaps, often enough, mental instability stems from living in the stressful schizophrenic culture we're watching (from the sidelines) our leaders build for us.

"Asking only workman's wages" through "some comfort there" means:

With the depressed economy which could well become the permanent outcome of our wars, all of us might end up "asking only workman's wages" (but getting no job offers) in spite of our loftier qualifications.

In terms of our "poor boy" (before he joined the military), he might have found few opportunities for advancement in the civilian world. So he enlists. But after he joins, he remembers several false starts. A lot of young men will check out a military recruiter (another meaning of "the whores on 7^th avenue") several "times when I was so lonesome" so he could take some comfort there (as he listens to the recruiter spin out his promises of a better life in the military).

Next stanza:

Our soldiers in the Middle East war zones or civilians in the U.S. could be saying:

"In my mind, I'm laying out my winter clothes, which will be needed no matter what time of year, since a great, gray ‘winter' of discontent has settled over the U.S., and one must properly ‘clothe' oneself to survive in that. I wish I was going home to the way things were before the ‘New York City winters' became a year-round season nationwide due to the ugly turn our foreign policy took after the events of 9/11 (which took place, most prominently, in New York City)."

Last Stanza:

"In the clearing stands a boxer":

"Boxer" refers to our troops. The conventional (very Western) way they fight is well described by "boxer." A boxer fights with only part of his body actually landing any blows, in a "clearing" (a well-defined battlefield), with distinct rules of engagement. Of course, the rest of the world laughs at the limited martial art which is boxing, choosing instead to engage more of their wholeness (body and mind, combined with avoiding "clearings" where a boxer would have an advantage).

I'm going to stretch a definition here, concerning the word "glove" which can also mean "gauntlet." "Gauntlet" means a cross fire of any kind; also: ordeal [as in] ran the gauntlet of criticism and censure. With this broadened definition, our boxer can indeed incur blows from "every glove" without having to actually face another boxer (that is, another warrior fighting under the same rules of engagement, who would also be wearing traditional boxing gloves).

Of course, the kind of "cross fire" that would most seriously wound our boxer would be "cutting" remarks" from our own citizenry. These "cutting remarks" (urging withdrawal from our wars in a cuttingly critical manner) would be enough to induce both "anger and shame." And cause our boxer (or at least his manager) to exclaim (on behalf of the boxer), "I am leaving, I am leaving."

But, guess what. Last line of the song: "but the fighter still remains, yes he still remains." Words to the contrary, boxers don't like to quit (nor, especially, do their managers). Our troops/boxers will be remaining in "the clearing” – which is Iraq and Afghanistan – for decades to come. And by "clearing," I mean a zone cleared away of any obstacle that could stand in the way of U.S. world domination via the need to dominate those two countries for the time being.

The Refrain

I love Paul Simon's use of the accusatory, oft-repeated refrain: "Lie, lie, lie...," which blends in beautifully with the dramatic and battle-like music and effects at the end of the song. In real life, the sounds of battle and of lies go well together, often becoming indistinguishable - one from the other.


I hereby dedicate The Boxer to George Bush, his most able follower Barack Obama, and the untold thousands within our Shadow Government who have given us the New Militarism. All based on lies, lies, lies, and more lies, lies ...


Another Meaning of "The Boxer"

After playing The Boxer over and over in my mind, I came up with yet another meaning, having nothing to do with the song itself. This meaning just spontaneously occurred to me:


“The Boxer" is none other than George W. Bush who was personally responsible for "boxing up [in coffins]" our dead troops to be airlifted home for burial. Iraq was his war, our dead are his fault. And, no, I don't exaggerate when I say this. Another such “Boxer” has established himself in the person of Barack Obama – for much the same reasons.


NOTE: Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary (1980) is the source of all definitions above, which are underlined.


Steven Searle for U.S. President in 2012
Founder of The Independent Contractors’ Party

“Join the new American Revolution: Declare your independence by voting for independents.”


Contact me at: bpa_cinc@yahoo.com

Music can save us? It can't hurt...

That's one humongous guitar!

In my early 20's, I had a waking-dream about flying over sand dunes in Arabia in a two-seater "Jenny" bi-plane. I heard it only faintly at first, but as I flew closer, I could hear the unmistakable sounds of a guitar being played.

But what a guitar! Nestled in between a pair of parallel dune ridges, it was hundreds of feet in length and the sound carried for miles, enriched and nuanced by interaction with the unending series of rippling dunes. It was "played," not by some giant, but by artificial "fingers" mounted on a sliding track and controlled mechanically from afar. Its strings were actually metal cables, inches in thickness.

Later, I discovered, this was an indulgence financed by some oil-rich prince who wanted to bring "life" to the barren land. And he had chosen this artifice as his means. His extravagance extended to having a seating-area hollowed out, several dozen feet under the guitar for his lucky guests to enjoy a resonating, musical bath.

This dream was inspired by placing my ear on the body of an acoustic 12-string guitar I had recently purchased. Sometimes simple gestures can inspire mighty imaginings!

A Youthful Anecdote

When I was 14-years-old, I tried an experiment with Simon & Garfunkel's Poem on the Underground Wall. I had a record player with 4 speeds: 78 rpm, 45, 33⅓, and 16. In the old days (before CD players), you had to adjust your music machine to play at 45 rpm if you had a (gasp!) vinyl record with only one song on each side. If you had an album, you cranked it down to 33⅓ rpm. Certain vintage LPs played at 78.

I never understood what the 16 rpm setting was for, hence my experiment: I played Poem on the Underground Wall, literally, in slow-motion. Just for the hell of it; you know how kids are. Talk about a happy accident! Given the fact that S&G sing so highly and sweetly, notching them down an octave made them sound like (well) regular guys singing.

Even though that was over 40 years ago, I'll never forget how overwhelmed I was by being immersed in the echoes of a subway station late at night as they opened with:

"The last train is nearly due, the underground is closing soon, and in the dark deserted station, restless in anticipation, a man waits in the shadows."

After the last footstepping notes sounded, I felt like I had died and gone to heaven.

Summoning the Spirit

I heard Summoning the Spirit by Llewellyn, which I have adopted as my personal anthem sans lyrics. In fact, during my inauguration, I would love to have Summoning played, instead of Hail to the Chief. Come to think of it, I will not suffer Hail to be played even once during my four years. This is my gesture in opposition to the Imperial Presidency, which I hope to bring to an end.

Summoning is one of the most beautiful arrangements I have ever heard. And I offer it to my countrymen as the theme of my administration, saying (in effect): "Too many of us here have fallen victim to false prophets or, just as bad, denied spirit altogether. By Summoning the Spirit, I don't mean to conjure an Entity but I hope to summon each of our individual spirits. With these individuals summoned and united in goodness, we can turn back from the darkness we're more and more resigning ourselves to."

Night Protection

Then there's Night Protection by Medwyn Goodall. I offer that as another symbolic statement: "Until we emerge from our national darkness, we would do well to pray for protection." Sounds like a lofty interpretational stretch, I admit, but upon hearing it (especially, more than once) I'm sure you'll feel that meaning. And, no, you won't have to listen to it dozens of times as I have.

Upshot (and not “bottom line”)

My musing here have been rather kaleidoscopic, but sometimes bits and pieces of a personal vision can be meaningfully reassembed in the minds of kindred spirits. Please, do behold and do reassemble and - add your own bits and pieces to the mix. I know that many of my fellow Terrans have a profoundly spiritual nature. I invite you to help me make it possible for spirit to flourish here.

Steven Searle for U.S. President in 2012

Founder of The Independent Contractors' Party

I am the only candidate with a contract:  "You wouldn't sell your house without a contract; why give your vote away?"