A beautiful, extremely sad song that uses its small arrangement to heartbreaking effect: the solo piano riff is so evocative, and stands up to some of Johnny’s most recognisable guitar licks despite the instrumental differences. The addition of blowing wind sound effects and the music box at the end is enough to reduce some of the most stone hearted people to tears: it gives off an aura of finality, fitting given its bleak subject matter and its place in the trilogy of songs on the “Boy With the Thorn in his Side” b-side (a running order that was thankfully restored on the Queen is Dead deluxe reissue). As for the lyrics...well, they are some of Moz’s most cavernous, unrelentingly solemn words put to music: unlike similar tunnels of emotion explored in songs such as “Life Is A Pigsty”, there is no promise of a positive resolution; it is the close relative of “I Know It’s Over”, and the antithesis of “Angel, Angel...”. It’s rawness has clearly inspired many heart on sleeve artists in the following years.
Put simply, it’s the first of the band’s greatest achievements we’ve seen thus far on this list - and there are many more of those to come.
10/10