The Boy With the Thorn in His Side / Asleep

by The Smiths

The Boy With the Thorn in His Side / Asleep cover art

A pre-release single that teased the lush orchestration of the upcoming 'The Queen Is Dead', this track ironically masks a bitter critique of the music industry behind an achingly beautiful melody. Johnny Marr utilized synthesized string layers—a relatively new texture for the band—to elevate the song's sweeping, romantic atmosphere. The B-side, 'Asleep', offers a deeply contrasting, funereal piano ballad confronting suicidal ideation.

Genres

  • Jangle Pop
  • Indie Pop

Tracklist

  1. The Boy With The Thorn In His Side
  2. Rubber Ring
  3. Asleep