[Verse 1]
I am just a poor boy
Though my story's seldom told
I have squandered—
I have 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, hmm, hmm, mmm

[Verse 2]
When I left my home and my family
I was no more than a boy
In the company of strangers
In the quiet of the railway station runnin' scared
Laying low
Seeking out the poorer quarters where the ragged people go
Looking for the places only they would know

[Chorus]
Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie la lie
Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie la lie, la la lie la lie

[Verse 3]
Asking only workman's wages
I come lookin' for a job
But I get no offers
Just a come-on from the whores on Seventh Avenue
I do declare
There were times when I was so lonesome
I took some comfort there, ooh la la la la la la la
[Verse 4]
Now the years are rolling by me
They are rockin' evenly
Now I'm older than I once was
And younger than I'll be, that's not unusual
Nor is it strange
After changes upon changes
We are more or less the same
After changes we are more or less the same

[Chorus]
Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie la lie
Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie la lie
La la lie la lie, lie la lie la lie la lie
Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie la lie, la la lie la lie

[Verse 5]
And I'm laying out my winter clothes
Wishing I was gone
Going home
Where the New York City winters aren't bleeding me
Leading me
To going home

[Verse 6]
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
[Chorus]
Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie la lie
Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie la lie
La la lie la lie, lie la lie la lie la lie
Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie la lie
La la lie la lie, lie la lie la lie la lie
Lie la lie, lie la lie la lie la lie, la la lie la lie

[Outro]
Thank you, good night
Thank you, thanks very much