A                                             F#m
I am just a poor boy though my story's seldom told
       E
I have squandered my existence
     E                               A
On a pocket full of mumbles such are promises
            F#m         E                 D
All lies in jest 'til a man hears what he wants to hear
                   A  E   D E A
And disregards the rest

[Verse 2]
        A
Well, I left my home and my family
                     F#m         E
I was no more than a boy in the company of strangers
                                      A              F#m
In the quiet of the railway station, running scared, laying low
        E              D                              A
Seeking out the poor quarters where the ragged people go
        E              D     E         A
Looking for the places only they would know

[Chorus]
F#m                E
Lie-la-Lie, Lie-la-Lie, Lie, Lie-la-Lie,
       F#m         D               E               A
Lie-la-Lie, Lie-la-Lie Lie Lie Lie Lie La-La-La-La Lie

[Verse 3]
     A
Only seeking workman's wages
                     F#m               E
I come looking for a job, but I get no offers
        E                                 A
Just a come-on from the whores on Seventh Avenue
        F#m             E                D
I do declare there were times when I was so lonesome
                    A   E  D E A
I took some comfort there

[Verse 4]
      A
In a-laying out my winter clothes
                  F#m         E
And wishing I was home, going home
          E                               A
Where the New York City winters aren't a-bleeding me
         F#m       E
Bleeding me, going home

[Bridge]
A        E  F#m E
La La La La La, La,
   A              E  F#m   E
La-La La La La-La La La La-La,
   D  E     A
La-La La La La

[Verse 5]
       A                                            F#m
In the clearing stands a boxer and a fighter by his trade
       E
And he carries the reminders
                                     A
Of every bloke that laid him down or cleft him
                                       F#m
'Til he cried out in his anger and his shame
      E             D                            A     E
I am leaving, I am leaving but the fighter still remains

[Chorus]
F#m                E
Lie-la-Lie, Lie-la-Lie, Lie, Lie-la-Lie,
       F#m         D               E               A
Lie-la-Lie, Lie-la-Lie Lie Lie Lie Lie La-La-La-La Lie