Rush And A Push And The Land Is Ours by The Smiths Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Anthemic Battle Cry of an Era
Lyrics
I am the ghost of Troubled Joe
Hung by his pretty white neck
Some eighteen months ago
I travelled to a mystical time zone
And I missed my bed
And I soon came home
They said “There’s too much caffeine
In your bloodstream
And a lack of real spice in your life”
I said “Leave me alone
Because I’m alright, dad
Surprised to still be on my own”
Oh, but don’t mention love
I’d hate the strain of the pain again
A rush and a push and the land that
We stand on is ours
It has been before
So it shall be again
And people who are uglier than you and I
They take what they need, and just leave
Oh, but don’t mention love
I’d hate the pain of the strain all over again
A rush and a push and the land that
We stand on is ours
It has been before
So why can’t it be now?
And people who are weaker than you and I
They take what they want from life
Oh, but don’t mention love
No, no, don’t mention love
A rush and a push and the land that
We stand on is ours
Your youth may be gone
But you’re still a young man
So phone me, phone me
So phone me, phone me, phone me
Oh, I think I’m in love
Oh, I think I’m in love
Oh, I think I’m in love (think I’m in love)
Oh, I think I’m in love
In a cascade of jangling guitars and wistful melodies, The Smiths crafted a discography ricocheted off the craggy cliffs of British pop culture, shaping an indelible mark on the music landscape. ‘Rush And A Push And The Land Is Ours’, a deep cut from their 1987 album ‘Strangeways, Here We Come’, stands as a poignant testament to the band’s unique ability to marry melody and message.
As the record spins and Morrissey’s plaintive vocals emerge, one can’t help but be transported to the complex world of ’80s Britain, set against the backdrop of political turmoil and youthful unease. Analyzing this track is a journey through time, politics, and personal struggle, amidst the haunting backdrop of a melody that refuses to be forgotten.
The Ghost of Troubled Joe: Dissecting the Song’s Protagonist
The Smiths were well known for their cinematic storytelling, and ‘Rush And A Push And The Land Is Ours’ opens with the ghost of ‘Troubled Joe,’ a spectral figure haunted by a past life and untimely demise. This character introduction serves as a metaphor for detachment and a yearning for something lost – a phantom limb of the British youth’s collective consciousness.
Metaphorically hanging between two worlds, Joe’s voyage to a ‘mystical time zone’ and subsequent return to the comfort of the familiar encapsulates the timeless struggle between escapism and reality, between the temptation of what could be and the acceptance of what is.
An Elixir of Youth and Thirst for Change
Lyrics alluding to ‘too much caffeine in your bloodstream’ and ‘a lack of real spice in your life’ function as an allegory for the tentative, sometimes jittery steps towards adulthood. The Smiths often explore themes of growing pains, and in this verse, they challenge listeners to reckon with a life that has perhaps grown too comfortable, too predictable, and too safe.
However, the proclamation to be left alone ‘because I’m alright, dad’ carries the dual weight of asserting one’s independence while simultaneously revealing a vulnerability—an admission that ‘alright’ is a far cry from ‘fulfilled’ or ‘passionate’. This is the battle cry of youth in search of meaning, standing at the precipice of the unknown and daring to leap.
Claiming Space in a World of Ugliness: The Hidden Meaning
At its core, ‘Rush And A Push’ is a song about territories, both literal and metaphorical. Morrissey croons of a land that is inherently ‘ours’, a sentiment that oozes of revolutions past and present. These assertions of ownership provoke thoughts on the struggle for power and acceptance, as well as a reclaiming of self.
The reference to ‘people who are uglier than you and I’ serves as a stark commentary on societal hierarchies and the exploitation of the vulnerable. Here, The Smiths shrewdly comment on the societal tendency to take what is needed without regard for the greater good—an action justified by those who may value their circumstances over integrity.
A Resonating Refrain: Memorable Lines Echoing Through Time
The song’s refrain—’A rush and a push and the land that we stand on is ours’—is as memorable as it is provocative. It evokes emotions of nostalgia, rebellion, and a longing for a sense of belonging that perhaps never was but could still be, indicating a belief in the potency of reclaiming the present.
Morrissey’s repetition of ‘Oh, but don’t mention love’ is equally powerful, layering a sense of cynicism and weariness over the otherwise bold and insistent melody. There’s a palpable tension between the desire to affect change and the fear of engaging with emotions that have once led to pain.
The Urgent Call in the Closing Verse: A Rally to the Youthful Spirit
The closing lines of the song serve as a poignant call to action. Morrissey’s appeal to a ‘young man’ whose ‘youth may be gone’ but spirit remains alive, bridges the gap between the naive optimism of youth and the hardened resolve that often comes with experience.
The repeated entreaty ‘phone me, phone me, phone me’ is both desperate and hopeful, requesting a connection, a lifeline to what was once bright and unbroken. It’s an acknowledgment of the inevitable march of time paired with a refusal to surrender to the silence of complacency. In a rallying cry that’s both personal and universal, ‘Rush And A Push And The Land Is Ours’ becomes a timeless anthem for anyone who ever dared to want more.
