Legendary singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell has earned her reputation as one of modern music’s most expressive and inventive voices. From Blue to Hejira, her work reshaped how personal storytelling and melodic ingenuity could coexist in popular music. But in a recent interview, Mitchell also shared her thoughts on the wider musical canon — and selected one song she believes is fundamentally exceptional, even compared to so many other great works.
Unlike lists that merely name favourites, Mitchell’s praise for this particular song came from a place of deep reflection: she described it as being “in a class all its own”, acknowledging its emotional power, compositional craft and enduring resonance.
The track Mitchell singled out was Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Boxer.” Originally released in 1969 on the album Bridge Over Troubled Water, “The Boxer” has long been regarded as one of the duo’s most poignant and lyrically potent songs. Its sparse opening, expressive harmonies and narrative of struggle and perseverance have made it a touchstone of folk-rock and a lasting testament to the songwriting duo’s empathy and skill.
In speaking about the song, Mitchell praised its combination of storytelling and musical arrangement. She highlighted its ability to balance simplicity and emotional complexity, creating a space where lyrics and melody amplify each other rather than compete.
“There are songs that feel like letters to the heart,” Mitchell said. “‘The Boxer’ is one of them — it’s just in a class all its own.”
She pointed out that while many songs can be technically superb, few achieve the kind of emotional clarity that “The Boxer” manages so effortlessly. To Mitchell, the song’s sparse production and contemplative lyrics are not limits — they are precisely what let its message resonate so powerfully.
“The Boxer” tells a story that feels both specific and universal. Its narrative — about a young person trying to find meaning, facing rejection and hardship — is conveyed with vivid, evocative imagery. Lines like “I am just a poor boy though my story’s seldom told” and “In the clearing stands a boxer and a fighter by his trade” evoke a sense of resolve tinged with vulnerability.
Mitchell pointed to this mixture — resilience laced with introspection — as a major part of the song’s impact. For her, it exemplifies how a composition can be deeply personal yet still reach a wide audience, touching listeners across generations and backgrounds.
She also noted the song’s arrangement, with its rhythmic undercurrent of bass and percussion supporting a melody that feels both sparse and expansive, as if there’s room inside the song for the listener’s own experiences and reflections.
Mitchell’s praise for “The Boxer” adds to a long tradition of musicians lauding the song’s craftsmanship. Through its gentle yet insistent rhythm, poetic lyrics and evocative storytelling, “The Boxer” has been embraced not just by audiences, but by fellow creators who see it as a blueprint for emotional songwriting.
In choosing it as a song that stands “leagues above the rest,” Mitchell joined a chorus of artists who recognize that certain works transcend their era. It’s not simply nostalgia or familiarity that keeps “The Boxer” alive in the musical conversation — it’s the song’s unerring ability to connect with listeners on a human, almost spiritual level.
For Mitchell, music has always been about pushing emotional boundaries and exploring breadth of experience. Her own catalogue, with its daring harmonies and unguarded lyrics, reflects a similar ambition to reach into the heart of what it means to be alive. That she would choose a song celebrated for storytelling integrity and musical openness makes perfect sense in the context of her own artistic values.
“The Boxer,” in her view, represents not just a great song, but a kind of song: one that prioritizes authenticity, empathy and honesty — qualities that have also defined her own body of work.
