Pick four songs from any band and you can tell a lot about their sound. This summer, I’m featuring #RockBlocks, four picks from bands across various genres. They might be wildly different from each other, but what binds them together is the fact that they’re all a part of my life soundtrack.
I still remember the day I picked up The Queen is Dead from Tower Records in Manhattan's Upper Westside. My family had a day trip in the city and I wisely convinced my parents to stop off at the then mecca of recorded music before heading back. I remember pressing play and knowing right away that the album deserved all the hype and acclaim that it got. It’s rightfully considered one of the greatest albums of all time, and it’s certainly the greatest Smiths record in my mind. I also believe that Side B was the greatest Side B of the 80’s — and “The Boy With the Thorn in His Side” is a big part of it.
Morrissey has stated that it’s his favorite Smiths song. It’s probably one of my favorites too because it was personal. I think Morrissey’s greatest lyrics are either about him or about The Smiths. In this case, the thorn is the music industry. And the boy is representative of Morrissey and the band. This was a song about an industry that wouldn’t and couldn’t accept The Smiths and just believe in them. The irony is that the song and the entire The Queen is Dead album went on to achieve critical acclaim. “The Boy With the Thorn in His Side” proved the naysayers wrong.
“And if they don't believe us now, will they ever believe us?”