Got your pride and your prose
Tucked just like a Tommy gun
Somewhere in the smoke
Just in case you need it
I know you got your pride and your prose
Tucked just like a Tommy gun
Somewhere in the smoke
Just in case you needed
Some of her to spin around
Rougher than the last one
Oh, what'd you used to say
The harder they come
But he just swears he's praying for a good time
He, he said he just doesn't miss her
And I have heard you never really lose it
Do you, do you

He took it all gracefully on the chin
Knowing that the beatings had to someday end
He found the bandages inside the pen
And the stitches on the radio
There was something, baby, holding you down
And there were whispers that were driving you crazy
And now you hunt the heart of this town
Remember when I knew a boxer, baby

And you tied two knuckles up
How they grind down
Tried to be a man
Tough just like your father
Try to settle down
Boy, I could calm down
Remember them songs
And the reasons we were singing
But he said he just doesn't miss her
He, he said it's somewhere in his framework
And I have heard you never really lose it
Do you, do you

He took it all gracefully on the chin
Knowing that the beatings had to someday end
He found the bandages inside the pen
And the stitches on the radio
There was something, baby, holding you down
And there were reasons that were driving you crazy
Until you hunt the heart of this town
Remember when I knew a boxer, baby

And you can wait all night long
Until it all goes wrong
And you waste away your soul
And you can wait, wait, wait, wait

You took it all gracefully on the chin
Knowing that the beatings had to someday end
You found the bandages inside the pen
And the stitches on the radio
There was something, baby, holding you down
And there were whispers that were driving you crazy
Until you hunt the heart of this town
Remember when I knew a boxer, baby
Remember when I knew a boxer, baby



Lyrics submitted by eltroyo11, edited by RudySka, paperbackwriter1993

Track duration: 02:47

"Boxer" as written by Brian / Fallon

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Boxer song meanings
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12 Comments

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  • 0
    Lyric Correction:The lyric is "And your tattooed knuckles, oh how they grind down", not 'tied two knuckles up'. Dunno how that could even be interpreted that way.
    Flag kamikazedreameron November 08, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think it's a song about a coward who hides behind music, booze, teenagers, razors, and fake charm because he's too blind to see his own worth...
    Flag interpretationdechansonon June 22, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Love "Trying to be a man, tough just like your father." Because guys, all of us know we probably hold our father as the image of absolute masculinity, even though he's just a human being. And you spend your life trying to live up to that God of a human that held you on his knee. I think the Boxer is him. A guy that kept getting hit but kept getting back up. And he's remembering when he knew himself that way. And how he's changed. Stitches on the radio is a great line.
    Flag rbach48on June 22, 2012   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning:I saw an interview in which Brian states this song is about a friend who was going through a divorce, and he thought to himself, they're too young to be going through stuff like this.
    He wrote it to pick up his friend, when he speaks about being a boxer, he speaks about how strong his friend was, where as at the time, he was just depressed.
    Brian is basically saying, you've taken the beating, but we all know you're stronger than just to stay down, so get back up, and keep moving forward :)
    Flag boxingfoxon April 19, 2012   Link
  • 0
    Memory:I remember when I first heard the song.

    Got the meaning right away; it’s like ah inspirational/ kick in then pants type… but something kinda rubbed me the wrong way.

    I guess it was the second to last verse “…And you waste away your soul. And you can wait, wait, wait, wait”. I mean according to the above link, that’s part of his advice to his buddie that just went through a quote un-quote rough divorce; you’re wasting your soul. A tad bit pretentious maybe.

    What was Brian hinting at or what was his friend actually going through? Who know really, maybe he spent some time in the big-house, literally did have to fight some gnar fools and is just trying to, figuratively, get back on his feet, idk, just sayin..

    Huum, I guess Brian is just trying to help his friend out. I can dig that..
    Flag mebon February 21, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Brian talks about this song in this interview. x1075lasvegas.radio.com/2010/07/09/the-gaslight-anthem-%E2%80%93-brian-fallon-interview/
    Flag mccmitchell357on February 20, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:First time I heard this song I thought it was about someone who used to be this strong figure who took all his beatings standing up, but as time has gone on he can't deal with everything the way he used to. I think the line "remember when I knew a boxer" is the singer looking at the person and remembering when they were this kind of fighter or warrior.
    Flag kill3rm0nkeyon September 16, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:First time I heard this song I thought it was about someone who used to be this strong figure who took all his beatings standing up, but as time has gone on he can't deal with everything the way he used to. I think the line "remember when I knew a boxer" is the singer looking at the person and remembering when they were this kind of fighter or warrior.
    Flag kill3rm0nkeyon September 16, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:The first time I heard this song it made me think of Hemingway, a man deeply invested in both boxing and prose. Who know's who the song's about, but it's great.
    Flag paperhangeron July 08, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:can't believe only 2 people have commented this, this song is absolutely AMAZING!
    Flag tmaloneyon June 28, 2010   Link

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