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 like a tommy gun
Somewhere in the smoke
Just in case you need it
I've heard it's been a ride
Rougher than the last one
Once you used to say
'Oh the harder they come'

But he just swears
He's prayin' for a good time
He, he said
He just doesn't miss her
But I have heard
You never really lose it, do ya? Do ya?

CHORUS:
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
But there was something heavy holding you down
And there were whispers that were driving you crazy
So you haunt the heart of this town
Remember when I knew a boxer, baby?

And your tattooed knuckles
Oh, how they grind down
Tried to be a man
Tough, just like your father
Try to settle down
More like c-calm down
Remember them songs
And the reasons we were singing for

But he said he just doesn't miss her
And he, he said it's somewhere in his framework
And I have heard you never really lose it, do ya? Do ya?

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
But there was something heavy holding you down
And there were reasons that were driving you crazy
So you haunt 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
But there was something heavy holding you down
And there were whispers that were driving you crazy
Until you haunt the heart of this town
Remember when I knew a boxer, baby?

Remember when I knew a boxer, baby?