<Tr> <Td> "Mrs. Robinson" (1968) </Td> <Td> "The Boxer" (1969) </Td> <Td> "Bridge over Troubled Water" (1970) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Music video </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> "The Boxer" (audio) on YouTube </Td> </Tr> <P> "The Boxer" is a song by the American music duo Simon & Garfunkel from their fifth studio album, Bridge over Troubled Water (1970). Produced by the duo and Roy Halee, it was released as the lead single from the album on March 21, 1969 . The song, primarily written by Paul Simon, is a folk rock ballad that variously takes the form of a first - person lament as well as a third - person sketch of a boxer . Simon's lyrics are largely autobiographical and partially inspired by the Bible, and were written during a time when he felt he was being unfairly criticized . The song's lyrics discuss poverty and loneliness . It is particularly known for its plaintive refrain, in which the singer sings' lie - la - lie', accompanied by a heavily reverbed drum . </P>

Instruments used in the boxer by simon and garfunkel