The Smiths Tribute NYC performs The Smiths' 10th single "The Boy with the Thorn in His Side" at The Bell House in Brooklyn, New York on Valentine's Day 2023. Music by Johnny Marr, Lyrics by Morrissey.
The song 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. It was The Smiths' first single to be accompanied by an official video.
In 2003, Morrissey declared this his favorite Smiths song.
Given Morrissey's ongoing battles with record companies over the last several decades, you can see why the meaning of the song still resonates with him. As he put it to actress Margi Clarke in a 1985 interview:
"The thorn is the music industry and all these people who never believe what I said, tried to get rid of me, never played the records, so I think we've reached the stage where if they don't believe me now, will they ever believe me."