The Song Neil Diamond Sang But Never Wrote
Throughout his legendary career, Neil Diamond created countless classics, from Sweet Caroline to I Am…I Said. Yet, many forget that he once performed a song that wasn’t his own composition – The Boxer. Originally written by Simon & Garfunkel, this masterpiece took on a new life when sung by Neil Diamond, blending the loneliness of a traveler with the resilience of a man weathering life’s blows.
A Chance Connection
Neil Diamond was not a close companion of Paul Simon or Art Garfunkel, but their artistic sensibilities overlapped. In 1970, when Simon & Garfunkel released Bridge Over Troubled Water with The Boxer as a highlight, Neil Diamond was at the peak of his own success. Yet he felt deeply connected to the song’s melancholy melody and lyrics, which mirrored his own struggles rising from hardship to fame.
Neil Diamond and The Boxer on Stage
In a few rare live performances, Neil Diamond included The Boxer in his setlist. Unlike the original folk-inspired version by Simon & Garfunkel, Diamond’s interpretation was richer and stronger, as if he embodied the character in the song—the lone fighter walking forward, taking life’s punches but never giving in.
Why the Song Suited Him
Born in Brooklyn to a poor Jewish immigrant family, Neil Diamond’s journey from a songwriter-for-hire to a world-renowned star was much like that of a street fighter clawing his way upward. Singing The Boxer wasn’t just about covering someone else’s work—it was about telling his own story through the rough warmth of his voice and the authenticity of his experience.
A Timeless Value
For fans, listening to Neil Diamond perform The Boxer was never about comparing it to Simon & Garfunkel’s version. Instead, it was about experiencing the meeting of two worlds: Paul Simon’s poetic depth paired with Neil Diamond’s earthy strength. It proved that a great song can be reborn in different voices, sometimes becoming even more relatable through an artist who truly understands its meaning.
Conclusion
Neil Diamond may not have written The Boxer, but whenever he sang it, the song became his. It told the tale of an artist—and a fighter—battling against the odds to reach the light at the end of the road.
🎵 Suggested listening: Neil Diamond – The Boxer (live version).