A Rush And a Push And The Land Is Ours

The Smiths' song 'A Rush And a Push And The Land Is Ours' is a haunting narrative that intertwines themes of identity, belonging, and the complexities of love. The opening lines introduce us to the 'ghost of troubled Joe,' a figure who seems to be grappling with a sense of displacement and longing for something that once was. The mention of a 'mystical time zone' and the desire to return home suggests a yearning for the past or a simpler time when the protagonist felt more at ease.

The chorus of the song, 'A rush and a push and the land that we stand on is ours,' speaks to a sense of entitlement and ownership over one's life and destiny. It's a declaration of self-assertion, possibly in the face of societal pressures or personal doubts. The repetition of this line throughout the song reinforces the idea of claiming one's space in the world. However, the mention of 'people who are uglier than you and I' and 'people who are weaker than you and I' taking what they need suggests a cynical view of human nature and the struggle for power and survival.

The song also touches on the theme of love, albeit with a sense of reluctance and fear of vulnerability. The repeated line 'Oh, but don't mention love' indicates a hesitance to engage with the emotional turmoil that love can bring. Yet, the closing lines, 'Oh, I think I'm in love,' reveal a shift from resistance to acceptance, albeit with a sense of surprise and disbelief. This evolution in the protagonist's attitude towards love mirrors the overall theme of the song: the struggle to find and assert one's identity in a world that is constantly changing and challenging.