A Rush And A Push And The Land Is Ours
The Smiths · The Smiths Complete [2011]
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 blood stream
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...."
Ooh, but don't mention love
I'd hate the strain of the pain again
urrrrrrggghh 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
Ooh, but don't mention love
I'd hate the pain of the strain all over again
urrrrggghh 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
Ooh, but don't mention love
no no-don't mention love!
urrrggghhh a rush and a push and the land that we stand on is ours
your youth may be gone
but you're still a yound man
so phone me, phone me, phone me
so phone me, phone me, phone me
Ooh, I think I'm in love
Ooh, I think I'm in love
Ooh, I think I'm in love
Urrgh, I think I'm in lerv
A Rush And A Push And The Land Is Ours
This track stands as a quintessential example of The Smiths' unique blend of jangle-pop and post-punk, driven by Johnny Marr's intricate guitar work and Morrissey's distinctive vocal delivery. Recorded for their 2011 complete discography, the song captures the band's signature melancholic yet driving energy, featuring a rhythmic interplay between bass and drums that defines their sound. The lyrics explore themes of urban alienation and the struggle for control within a changing landscape, delivered with Morrissey's characteristic wit and vulnerability. As a staple of their catalog, it remains a defining piece of 1980s British indie music, showcasing the band's ability to fuse catchy melodies with socially conscious storytelling that continues to resonate with fans decades later.
