Joan Baez and Paul Simon created a truly unforgettable moment during the 75th Birthday Celebration concert in New York City when they performed “The Boxer” together live in 2016. The stage glowed softly, setting a warm and intimate mood as the two folk legends stood side by side, guitars in hand. Paul Simon started the song with his signature fingerpicking and calm, tender voice, immediately pulling the audience into the story.
Joan Baez joined in soon after, her strong, crystal-clear vocals blending perfectly with Simon’s, giving the song a hauntingly beautiful harmony. Every lyric felt powerful and heartfelt, and the crowd sat in complete silence, captivated by the emotion in the performance. When they reached the iconic “lie-la-lie” chorus, the audience erupted in cheers, clearly moved by this rare collaboration.
The moment felt like a celebration of not just Simon’s milestone birthday but also the shared history of folk music, with two of its most iconic voices coming together. It was a performance full of warmth, respect, and nostalgia, leaving everyone with goosebumps and reminding them why “The Boxer” remains such a timeless classic.
Joan Baez’s 1981 performance of “The Boxer” at the Oakland Auditorium is a stunning example of her ability to turn a classic song into something deeply personal and powerful. Standing alone on stage with her guitar, Baez delivered the song with her signature clear, soaring voice that filled the auditorium.
Her gentle strumming set a calm, emotional tone, and every lyric felt honest and heartfelt, as if she were telling her own story. The audience listened in silence, completely captivated, until the famous “lie-la-lie” chorus, which Baez sang with strength and emotion that gave the moment an almost haunting beauty.
This performance showed why she remains one of folk music’s most respected voices — simple, sincere, and unforgettable.