Folk LEGENDS Joan Baez & Paul Simon’s Heartwarming Duet of “The Boxer”

In 2016, the iconic singer-songwriter and dedicated activist Joan Baez marked her 75th birthday with an extraordinary, star-studded concert held at the historic Beacon Theatre in New York City. This milestone event was captured for the PBS Great Performances series, allowing a wider audience to witness the celebration. Among the many memorable moments throughout the evening, a particular collaboration between Baez and fellow folk music pioneer Paul Simon stood out, quickly gaining significant popularity online and amassing over 10 million views from fans across the globe.

During this 2016 performance, Paul Simon, who was 73 at the time, joined Baez on stage to deliver a live rendition of the classic 1969 Simon & Garfunkel hit, “The Boxer.” Originally featured on the duo’s final chart-topping studio album, Bridge Over Troubled Water, the song was elevated by the presence of legendary London-born folk guitarist Richard Thompson, who provided additional musical support. The arrangement was noted for its lush, refined quality, with both Baez and Simon bringing a lifetime of musical experience to the performance, their voices having aged like fine wine to imbue the track with newfound depth.

The rendition was particularly resonant due to the way the lyrics seemed to evolve with the artists. Lines such as, “I am older than I once was / And younger than I’ll be; that’s not unusual,” carried a bittersweet weight that felt deeply personal for the performers. Furthermore, the sentiment that “After changes we are more or less the same” appeared to capture the collective spirit of the generation that came of age during the 1960s, providing a poignant reflection on the passage of time for both the artists and their long-time listeners who grew up alongside their music.

The birthday concert featured a comprehensive setlist of 22 songs, each carefully chosen to showcase Baez’s career and her connections to other veteran artists of her era. Alongside her duet with Simon, Baez performed a cover of The Beatles’ “Blackbird” with David Crosby and shared the stage with musicians such as Damien Rice and Mary Chapin Carpenter. The show also included several solo performances, including two Bob Dylan classics: “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,” and “Forever Young,” which served as the emotional finale for the evening.

Watch the full performance on page two