The Boy With a Thorn in His Side
The Smiths Lyrics


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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?
How can they hear me say those words
Still they don't believe me?
And if they don't believe me now
Will they ever believe me?
And if they don't believe me now
Will they ever, they ever, believe me?
Oh

The boy with the thorn in his side
Behind the hatred there lies
A plundering desire for love
How can they see the Love in our eyes
And still they don't believe us?
And after all this time
They don't want to believe us
And if they don't believe us now
Will they ever believe us?
And when you want to live
How do you start?
Where do you go?
Who do you need to know?

Oh
Oh no




Oh
La

Overall Meaning

"The Boy With The Thorn In His Side" by The Smiths appears to be a commentary on the experiences of someone who has been deeply hurt and rejected by the people around them. The titular "boy" is likely an outcast, someone with an imperfection or flaw that has caused others to treat him with disdain. The singer seems to be asking why people are so quick to judge and reject others based on their perceived faults, and why they can't see the love and goodness in those who are different from themselves.


The lyrics suggest that the boy's desire for love has turned murderous, perhaps indicating that his attempts to connect with others have been met with hostility or violence. The repeated questions about why others don't believe him or his words may reflect the boy's frustration and desperation to be understood and accepted by those around him.


As the song progresses, the focus shifts from the boy to the singer and the broader concept of love and acceptance. The lines "How can they see the love in our eyes and still they don't believe us?" suggest a broader rejection of love and unity, and the frustration that even when people attempt to be open and vulnerable, they are still met with suspicion and rejection.


Overall, "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side" seems to be a powerful plea for empathy and understanding, calling on listeners to look beyond the surface level flaws and idiosyncrasies of others and recognize the shared humanity and desire for connection that lies beneath.


Line by Line Meaning

The boy with the thorn in his side
Referring to himself as 'the boy with the thorn in his side', the singer portrays himself as an outsider or outcast.


Behind the hatred there lies
Despite the hate directed towards him, there's something deeper beneath the surface.


A murderous desire for love
The singer believes that the desire for love can be all-consuming and even lead to violent actions.


How can they look into my eyes
The singer wonders why people can't see the truth when he looks them in the eyes.


And still they don't believe me?
Despite his efforts to convey honesty and sincerity, people continue to doubt him.


And if they don't believe me now
The singer questions whether people will ever believe him, even if they don't currently.


Will they ever, they ever, believe me?
The repetition of 'ever' emphasizes his doubt that people will ever believe him.


The boy with the thorn in his side
Repeating the opening line, the singer reinforces his feeling of being an outsider or outcast.


Behind the hatred there lies
Again, the singer emphasizes that there is more beneath the surface of the animosity towards him.


A plundering desire for love
The idea of 'plundering' emphasizes the all-consuming nature of the desire for love.


How can they see the Love in our eyes
The singer is confused as to why people can't see love when it is clearly present in his eyes and the eyes of others like him.


And after all this time
Despite the passage of time, people still refuse to believe the truth.


They don't want to believe us
The singer believes that people actively choose not to believe him and others like him.


And if they don't believe us now
Again, the singer questions whether people will ever come around to the truth.


Will they ever believe us?
The repeated questioning of whether people will believe him emphasizes the frustration and doubt he feels.


And when you want to live
The shift to second person is a plea for the listener to understand and empathize with his struggle.


How do you start?
The question is rhetorical - the singer is highlighting the difficulty of knowing how to begin when you feel like an outsider.


Where do you go?
This question emphasizes the sense of aimlessness and confusion that can come with feeling like an outsider.


Who do you need to know?
The final question suggests that the singer feels like he needs someone or something in order to be accepted and believed.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVEN MORRISSEY, JOHNNY MARR

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@marianvidal7602

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?
How can they hear me say those words
And still they don't believe me?
And if they don't believe me now
Will they ever believe me?
And if they don't believe me now
Will they, will they ever believe me?
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
The boy with the thorn in his side
Behind the hatred there lies
A plundering desire for love
How can they see the love in our eyes
And still they don't believe us?
And after all this time
They don't want to believe us
And if they don't believe us now
Will they ever believe us?
And when you want to live
How do you start?
Where'd you go?
Who do you need to know?
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh



All comments from YouTube:

@paristexas80

RIP Andy, thank you for all the wonderful music and those unforgettable bass lines 🤍

@exitthematrix2072

Amen!!!

@magroveio

Amém

@elizabethcurtin4468

Thinking the same love him.

@davidboyce8683

Oh yeah !

@mariacremildavieira8312

​@@magroveiokkdx

1 More Replies...

@auxmike718

“Girlfriend in a coma”
Got me into the Smiths in the 80’s. Morrissey may be a strange boy but he’s a musical genius!

@butternutcrunch

...and if I seem a little strange, well that's because I am...

@Crisstti

And a lyrical/poetic genius as well

@paulanthony5274

And he's not strange he's just very intelligent and can see the world for what it is.

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