The Boy with the Thorn in His Side

Last updated

"The Boy with the Thorn in His Side"
Thornsmiths.gif
Single by The Smiths
from the album The Queen Is Dead
B-side "Rubber Ring"
"Asleep"
Released16 September 1985
RecordedAugust 1985
Studio Drone Studios, Manchester
Genre
Length3:17(single version)
3:15 (album version)
3:18 (alternate mix)
Label Rough Trade
Songwriter(s) Johnny Marr, Morrissey
Producer(s) The Smiths (single); Morrissey and Johnny Marr (album version)
The Smiths singles chronology
"That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore"
(1985)		"The Boy with the Thorn in His Side"
(1985)		"Bigmouth Strikes Again"
(1986)

"The Boy with the Thorn in His Side" is a song by the English rock band the Smiths. It was released as a single in September 1985, reaching No. 23 in the UK Singles Chart. A remixed version appeared on their third album The Queen Is Dead in June 1986.

Contents

This was the first single by The Smiths to be accompanied by a promotional music video, something the band had previously resisted. They also performed the song on an episode of Top of the Pops . The main difference between the single version and the album version is in the use of synthesised strings, which are absent from the single version. In 2003, Morrissey named it his favourite Smiths song. [2]

Background

Margi Clarke asked Morrissey if this song was inspired by Oscar Wilde, and Morrissey replied: "No, that's not true. The thorn is the music industry and all those people who never believed anything I said, tried to get rid of me and wouldn't play the records. So I think we've reached a stage where we feel: if they don't believe me now, will they ever believe me? What more can a poor boy do?" [3]

Track listing

7" RT191
No.TitleLength
1."The Boy with the Thorn in His Side"3:17
2."Asleep"4:09
12" RTT191
No.TitleLength
1."The Boy with the Thorn in His Side"3:17
2."Rubber Ring/Asleep"7:56
CD Single RTT191
No.TitleLength
1."The Boy with the Thorn in His Side"3:17
2."Rubber Ring"3:48
3."Asleep"4:10

The original 12" and CD singles have "Rubber Ring" and "Asleep" segued into a continuous piece with the voice sample at the end of the former looped and faded into the wind noise preceding the latter. Described by Simon Goddard (in Songs That Saved Your Life, 2nd edition, p. 154) as a "spectacular combination" — a suggestion with which Johnny Marr concurs — this carefully executed sequence could only be found on the original 12" single, before the 2017 release of the remaster/re-issue of The Queen Is Dead , which includes the same songs with the same segue as tracks 10 and 11 (respectively) of its "Additional Recordings" bonus disc. The two tracks are separated on all other compilations.

Artwork and matrix message

The jumping man on the sleeve cover of the single release is a young Truman Capote.

The British 7" and 12" versions contain the etchings: ARTY BLOODY FARTY/IS THAT CLEVER...JM. "Is that clever" is an allusion to a piece of sampled dialogue in "Rubber Ring" taken from The Importance of Being Earnest , a play that was referenced in the etchings of "William, It Was Really Nothing" and Hatful of Hollow . "JM" is a reference to Johnny Marr, and was also an etching on the Sandie Shaw version of "Hand in Glove".

Charts

Chart (1985)Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)15
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)23

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [4] Silver200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]

Jack Rabid of Allmusic called this single "great ... just another feather in a jeweled cap". [5]

Cover versions

The song was covered by Scottish band Bis on the tribute album The Smiths Is Dead . Reviewer Stephen Thomas Erlewine harshly criticised the cover, writing: "Bis utterly disembowel 'The Boy with the Thorn in His Side' with a single-minded stupidity that is just bewildering." [6]

A cover version recorded by Jeff Buckley in 1993 was distributed by Columbia Records as a 7" in 2016. [7]

American indie rock bands Jejune and Lazycain released a split EP together in 1999 where they each covered Smiths songs; Jejune covered "The Boy with the Thorn in His Side", Lazycain covered "Handsome Devil". [8]

The song was additionally covered by Belle & Sebastian, Scott Matthews, Emilie Autumn, Xiu Xiu, Dinosaur Jr's J Mascis and The Cat Empire [9] in live performances.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Smiths</span> English rock band (1982–1987)

The Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982, composed of Morrissey (vocals), Johnny Marr (guitar), Andy Rourke (bass) and Mike Joyce (drums). Morrissey and Marr formed the band’s songwriting partnership. The Smiths are regarded as one of the most important acts to emerge from 1980s British independent music.

<i>The Queen Is Dead</i> 1986 studio album by the Smiths

The Queen Is Dead is the third studio album by the English rock band the Smiths, released on 16 June 1986, by Rough Trade Records. The album was produced by the band's singer, Morrissey, and their guitarist, Johnny Marr, working predominantly with engineer Stephen Street who engineered the Smiths' previous album, Meat Is Murder (1985). Marr wrote several songs while the Smiths toured Britain in early 1985, working out arrangements with bassist Andy Rourke and drummer Mike Joyce during soundchecks. The album title is taken from American writer Hubert Selby Jr.'s 1964 novel, Last Exit to Brooklyn. The cover art features the French actor Alain Delon in the 1964 film L'Insoumis.

<i>The World Wont Listen</i> 1987 compilation album by the Smiths

The World Won't Listen is a compilation album by English rock band the Smiths, released on 23 February 1987 by Rough Trade Records. The album is the second of three compilation albums—the others being Hatful of Hollow and Louder Than Bombs—released by the Smiths while they were still an active band. It reached No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart, staying on the charts for 15 weeks. In the United States Louder Than Bombs was released in place of The World Won't Listen.

<i>...Best II</i> 1992 greatest hits album by the Smiths

...Best II is a compilation album by the Smiths. It was released on November 2, 1992, by the new owner of their back catalogue, WEA. Its highest British chart position was #29; it did not chart in the U.S.

<i>Singles</i> (The Smiths album) 1995 greatest hits album by the Smiths

Singles is the seventh compilation album by the English rock band the Smiths, pitched as a compilation of previously issued singles. It was released in February 1995 by the new owner of their back catalogue, WEA. Its highest British chart position was #5; it did not chart in the United States. Blender magazine listed the album among the "500 CDs You Must Own" on their website.

<i>The Very Best of The Smiths</i> 2001 greatest hits album by The Smiths

The Very Best of The Smiths is a compilation album by English rock band The Smiths. It was released in June 2001 by WEA in Europe, without consent or input from the band. It reached number 30 on the UK Albums Chart. The album was not released in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Panic (The Smiths song)</span> 1986 single by the Smiths

"Panic" is a song by the English rock band the Smiths, released in 1986 and written by singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr. The first recording to feature new member Craig Gannon, "Panic" bemoans the state of contemporary pop music, exhorting listeners to "burn down the disco" and "hang the DJ" in retaliation. The song was released by Rough Trade as a single and reached No. 7 on the Irish Singles Chart and No. 11 in the UK Chart. Morrissey considered the song's appearance on daytime British radio a "tiny revolution" in its own way, as it aired amongst the very music it criticised.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">There Is a Light That Never Goes Out</span> 1992 single by the Smiths

"There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" is a song by the English rock band the Smiths, written by guitarist Johnny Marr and lead vocalist Morrissey. Featured on the band's third studio album The Queen Is Dead (1986), it was not released as a single in the United Kingdom until 1992, five years after their split, to promote the compilation album ...Best II. It peaked at No. 25 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 22 on the Irish Singles Chart. The song has received considerable critical acclaim; in 2014, NME listed it as the 12th-greatest song of all time. In 2021, it was ranked at No. 226 on Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shakespeare's Sister (song)</span> 1985 single by The Smiths

"Shakespeare's Sister" is a song by the English rock band the Smiths. Released in March 1985, it reached No. 26 in the UK Singles Chart. It is also featured on the compilation albums Louder Than Bombs and The World Won't Listen. The front cover to the single features former Coronation Street star Pat Phoenix, dressed up as her character Elsie Tanner.

"Asleep" is a song by the English rock band the Smiths. It was released as a B-side to the single "The Boy with the Thorn in His Side" in September 1985, reaching No. 23 in the UK Singles Chart. It appears on the compilation albums The World Won't Listen and Louder Than Bombs, and on the deluxe edition of The Queen Is Dead in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bigmouth Strikes Again</span> 1986 single by the Smiths

"Bigmouth Strikes Again" is a 1986 song by the English rock band the Smiths from their third album The Queen Is Dead. Written by Johnny Marr and Morrissey, the song features self-deprecating lyrics that reflected Morrissey's frustrations with the music industry at the time. Musically, the song was inspired by the Rolling Stones' "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and centres around a guitar riff that Marr wrote during a 1985 soundcheck.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girlfriend in a Coma (song)</span> 1987 single by the Smiths

"Girlfriend in a Coma" is a song by the English rock band the Smiths, written by singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr. It was the first of three UK singles from the band's fourth and final studio album, Strangeways, Here We Come. Inspired by the song "To Be Young, Gifted and Black", "Girlfriend in a Coma" features a lilting acoustic guitar line performed by Marr and lyrics about a hospital-bound lover sung by Morrissey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheila Take a Bow</span> 1987 single by the Smiths

"Sheila Take a Bow" is a song by the English rock band the Smiths, written by Morrissey and Johnny Marr. Featuring a glam rock-style beat and guitar riff, the song was originally planned to feature Sandie Shaw on backing vocals, but Shaw's distaste for the song and Morrissey's illness during her session resulted in the vocals not being used.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore</span> 1985 single by the Smiths

"That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore" is a song by the English rock band the Smiths. The full-length version of the song appears on the album Meat Is Murder. It was the sole track from the album to be released, in edited form, as a UK single. The song was composed by guitarist Johnny Marr and singer Morrissey. Marr has cited it as one of his favourite Smiths songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Started Something I Couldn't Finish</span> 1987 single by The Smiths

"I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" is a song by the English rock band The Smiths, written by singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr and released on the group's 1987 album Strangeways, Here We Come. Featuring a glam rock-inspired guitar riff, the song emerged from a jam during the "Sheila Take a Bow" sessions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me</span> 1987 single by the Smiths

"Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me" is a song by the English rock band the Smiths, written by singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr. It appears as the sixth track on the band's final album Strangeways, Here We Come (1987). It features a backdrop of crowd noises from the miners' strike of 1984–85. The song is a favourite of both Morrissey and Marr.

"Redondo Beach" is a song by Patti Smith. It was first released on Smith's 1975 album Horses, with band members Richard Sohl and Lenny Kaye credited as co-writers. The lyrics were originally published as a poem in Smith's 1972 book kodak under the title "Radando Beach".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweet and Tender Hooligan</span> 1995 single by The Smiths

"Sweet and Tender Hooligan" is a song by the English rock band the Smiths, written by singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr. Recorded in 1986, it was released as a single in May 1995 by Sire Records to promote the compilation album Singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">How Soon Is Now?</span> 1985 song by the Smiths

"How Soon Is Now?" is a song by English rock band the Smiths, written by singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr. Originally a B-side of the 1984 single "William, It Was Really Nothing", "How Soon Is Now?" was subsequently featured on the compilation album Hatful of Hollow and on US, Canadian, Australian, and Warner UK editions of Meat Is Murder. Belatedly released as a single in the UK in 1985, it reached No. 24 on the UK Singles Chart. When re-released in 1992, it reached No. 16.

<i>Complete</i> (The Smiths album) 2011 box set by The Smiths

Complete is a box set compilation by English rock band the Smiths, released by Rhino Records on 26 September 2011. The standard CD and LP versions contain the band's four studio albums The Smiths, Meat Is Murder, The Queen Is Dead and Strangeways, Here We Come, their only live album Rank and the three compilation albums released while the band were still active–Hatful of Hollow, The World Won't Listen and Louder Than Bombs–on eight CDs or eight LPs. A deluxe version contains those eight albums on both CD and LP formats, as well as 25 seven-inch vinyl singles and a DVD.

References

  1. ↑ Molanphy, Chris (31 October 2019). "The Lost and Lonely Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate . Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  2. ↑ Reardon, Ben (July 2003). "Morrissey i-Q". i-D Magazine. London.
  3. ↑ The Tube (UK, Channel 4), Season 4, Episode 3: 25 October 1985
  4. ↑ "British single certifications – Smiths – The Boy With The Thorn In His Side". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 13 July 2024.
  5. 1 2 Rabid, Jack. "The Boy with the Thorn in His Side Review". Allmusic . Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  6. ↑ The Smiths Is Dead album review, allmusic, The Boy with the Thorn in His Side at AllMusic
  7. ↑ Jeff Buckley - The Boy With The Thorn In His Side b/w If You Knew (Live At Café Sin-é), 2016, retrieved 28 November 2023
  8. ↑ Jejune / Lazycain - The Boy With The Thorn In His Side / Handsome Devil, 1999, retrieved 28 November 2023
  9. ↑ "Konzert im Kölner Palladium - Musik für die gute Laune". General-Anzeiger Bonn (in German). 12 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  10. ↑ "Blackpool – an original six-part drama serial for BBC ONE". BBC Press Office. 21 October 2004.
  11. ↑ "The Perks of Being a Wallflower: A look at which of the book's cultural references show up in the movie". The Washington Post . 28 September 2012.
  12. ↑ "Production notes" (PDF). suckerpunchmovie.warnerbros.com. p. 15.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.