Johnny, you're too right. "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side" is pop in it's purest form. Ace!

Boy with the thorn in his side is the most extrordinary Smith's tune written. It captures the musical soul of the smiths at the height of Morrissey's lyrical and vocal power. No other song written by the two encapsulates their teamwork as well. Simply a perfect pop tune.

What does recently mean? Yesterday? Last week? Last month? A few months back? Does it matter? Does it have any significance to the reunion rumour? Why do i care still?

is there any particular reason why a Smith's song should be rereleased?

Is johnny trying to tell us something?

I wonder how closely the language of the story follows what Johnny said. There are so many ways to interpret this one but in any case, I think they are right on the song choice. What a fantastic song in all regards.

Nice bit of news.

Hasn't Hand In Glove always been attributed to The Smiths. Although, The Boy With The Thorn On His Side is a wonderful song, perhaps HIG should be the one Re-released.

Ever since I first heard it, it's been my favourite song of all time. As such, I'd like it to be played at my funeral but haven't got round to telling anyone!

I've often wondered why this song always gets left out of the 'greatest Smiths songs of all time' lists. When we were requesting Smiths songs for the last tour (in a poll) it wasn't even an option. It's a beautiful song. That lovely guitar line, the understated strings, a simple yet incredibly moving melody and, during the closing minute or so when Morrissey just yodels, well, I feel as if I've died and gone to pure pop heaven!

In the recent (and excellent) interview in I.D. magazine, Moz listed this song (along with Now My Heart) as his favourite. Maybe that's why JM said that he and Moz recently agreed about the song. Perhaps we'll hear it on the next tour...

John, England.

except agreeing with most of you, i must add that the CRANBERRIES had a song named "just my imagination" which is beautiful by itself but sounds like a copy of TBWTTIHS more by structure, key, and dolores` yodeling at the end than by the rif... but listen to it a couple of times. damn, listen to both songs simultanously and u`ll see i m right.
the cranberris have admitted to be smiths fans - hence the motive for the "crime"...

noam

every one agrees and this is the greatest "pop tune ever written. think for yourself.

I think without a doubt the finest Smiths song ever recorded was Reel Around The Fountain. Pure and raw, fist track first record truly truly awesome.

"And when you want to live
  How do you start?
  Where do you go?
  Who do you need to know?"

Those lines make me laugh and cry at the same time every time I hear that song. Still, after being a fan for nearly 14 years.
That's ace, that is.
Only Morrissey could write lines like that. And when he "yodels" at the end of the song... ooooh, that's magic, that's pure pop, that's genious, that's... all I could ever wish out of life.
Brilliant.

one of the most beautiful songs in pop music history...

Sounds interesting but wouldn't be my choice. Why would a Smiths song ever need to be re-released anyway?

The point here isn't how good a song TBWTTIHS is. It's that Johhny was talking to Morrissey recently, that they were in agreement (on anything for heavens sake)and that he said "shock horror" Thus acknowledging that it was surprising that he and Moz were talking and "there's a scoop" more or less telling us definitely that if The Smiths havent reformed then Morrissey and Marr have.
I reckon. Maybe.

They should release 'Matter of opinion' and 'I want a boy for my birthday' as a double-A side!

Johnny was not hinting at a rerelease. There is no thinly veiled reunion, all he was saying was that he likes The Boy With A Thorn in His Side and probably thinks that it has been underated over time. The Smiths have rereleased songs before (There Is Light, This Charming Man, Ask etc) so talk of rereleasing songs means very little anyway.

The fact that he and Morrissey agree and that they met recently also means very little except that they still talk and get on. Its nice news and I am happy to hear it but theres no point speculating that it means that much. The 'Shock Horror' comment is probably a slight jibe at public perceptions that he and Mozzer never talk to each other. In fact they could even be reading this and laughing at us all now!!

...I think they should re-release 'Suffer Little Children'...backed by 'Never Had Noone Ever'...

Can anyone really see Morrissey agreeing to rerelease any Smiths singles? He would surely refuse on the principle that Joyce would get 25% of the royalties!

Richey