The Smiths “The Boy With the Thorn in His Side” b/w “Rubber Ring” and “Asleep” 1985. Rough Trade records. Yesterday, May 22nd, was Morrissey’s birthday (b. Steven Patrick Morrissey 1959) and I’ve always felt “Boy With the Thorn in His Side” perfectly sums up much of Morrissey’s persona. Depressed and mournful yet bizarrely hopeful and wistful backed by melodically bouncy and uplifting jangly guitar.

The boy with the thorn in his side
Behind the hatred there lies
A murderous desire for love
How can they look into my eyes
And still they don’t believe me?

“The Boy With the Thorn in His Side” appears on “The Queen is Dead” but was released many months before the album as a single, which reached #23 on the UK charts in the fall of ‘85. “Asleep” is a sweet song, found on a couple of Smith comps, same with “Rubber Ring.”