The Boy With The Thorn In His Side

by The Smiths

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Lyrics

The (D)boy with the thorn in his (Am7)side.

Be hind the (C)ha tred (D)there lies a (G)mur der ous de sire

for

love.

How can they (G)look in to my (Am)our eyes, and still they don’t be lieve me?

And af ter all How can they (G)hear me say those words, they still want they don’t to be lieve me?

(D)And if they don’t be (G)lieve me (Am)now,

will they ev (Am7)er be lieve me?

(D)And if they don’t be (G)lieve me do now, (Am)start?

(D)Where will they ev-, will they ev er be lieve me?

Oh, (D)oh.

Oh.

Oh.

Oh.

The (D)boy with the thorn in his (Am7)side.

Be hind the (C)ha tred (D)there lies a (G)plun der ing de sire

for

love.

How can they (G)see the love in (Am)our eyes, and still they don’t be lieve us?

And af ter all How this they (G)time, me say those words, they don’t want they don’t to be lieve us?

(D)And if they don’t be (G)lieve us (Am)now,

will they ev (Am7)er be lieve us?

(D)And when you want to (G)live, how do you (Am)start?

(D)Where do you go?

Who do you need to know?

me?

Oh, (D)oh.

Oh.

Oh.

Oh.

Oh, (Dsus)oh, oh, (C)oh, (D)oh, (G)oh.

Oh,

oh, (Am7)oh.

(G)Oh, oh, (Am)oh, oh, oh, (Am7)oh.

No, no, no, (G)no.

No, no, no, (D)no.

No, no, no, no, no.

No, no, no, (D)no, no, no, no, no, (G)no.

No, no, no, (D)no.

No, no, no, no, no.

No, no, no, (D)no, no, no, no, no,

The Boy With The Thorn In His Side by The Smiths — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “The Boy With The Thorn In His Side” by The Smiths in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of G at 120 BPM, a medium-difficulty arrangement — try slowing the tempo down using the BPM control.

Tips for parents & teachers

  • Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
  • Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
  • Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
  • Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side" good for a child learning piano?
Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side"?
Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?
No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?
Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.
How many chords does "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side" use?
Just 7 chords: Am, Am7, C, Cmaj7, D, Dsus4, G. Take it one section at a time.
What other The Smiths songs work for kids?
Try "BIGMOUTH STRIKES AGAIN", "THERE IS A LIGHT THAT NEVER GOES OUT", "HEAVEN KNOWS I'M MISERABLE NOW". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.