THE SMITHS – THE BOY
WITH THE THORN IN HIS SIDE (ROUGH TRADE)
With “The Boy With The
Thorn In His Side” you get the impression that even Morrissey
would admit to this being a very poncy piece.
Frustration crashes through coupled with a wiggle and a general sense of
unease of feeling invisible and not knowing how to react in a socially accepted
manner.
Along with “Rubber
Ring” and “Bigmouth Strikes Again”, this was part of a threesome addressing the
rise of the band within both the music industry and press. From one perspective it is a piece of guarded
soul searching via satire in addition to being a sniping defence. At times it’s quite the bitchy jaunt.
The “thorn” in
question is the music industry and the prickly relationship the band had with
it. People like The Smiths
were never designed to be universally loved; their creation was born to service
the unwanted and disliked. On both sides
of the exchange both parties existed in awkwardness. This is a song about vulnerability or as
Mozipedia put it: “honest charm”.
In contrast to
Morrissey’s sentiments, the playing is actually upbeat if not fluffy. The sound is breezy as waves of strings enter
to assist proceedings.
Featuring a photo of
Truman Capote on the cover it is appropriately dainty and anxious to command
such a relationship.
“Asleep” is the b-side
offering a weary request for a lullaby ahead of exit. Piano led it is slow, weak and solemn. A person might die listening to this song, if
not externally certainly internally. As
with most tainted conversations with partners it is draining.
Thesaurus moment:
prickly.
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