Rush And A Push And The Land Is Ours
The Smiths Lyrics

Oh hello
The song begins with the introduction of Troubled Joe's ghost who is going to narrate the story.

I am the ghost of Troubled Joe
The ghost is introducing itself as Troubled Joe.

Hung by his pretty white neck
The ghost describes how he died by hanging himself.

Some eighteen months ago
The ghost is giving a timeframe for its death.

I travelled to a mystical time zone
The ghost describes its journey to the afterlife or some other mysterious place.

And I missed my bed
The ghost is reminiscing about the comforts of their past life.

And I soon came home
The ghost returned to the mortal world to continue its unfinished business.

They said "There's too much caffeine
The people around the ghost criticize them for having too much caffeine in their system.

In your bloodstream
The caffeine is present in the ghost's bloodstream.

And a lack of real spice in your life"
The people around the ghost criticize their life for being bland and uneventful.

I said "Leave me alone
The ghost tells the people criticizing them to back off and leave them in peace.

Because I'm alright, dad
The ghost asserts that they are okay and don't need any advice or help from others.

Surprised to still be on my own"
The ghost is surprised that they are still on their own, without any company even after death.

Oh, but don't mention love
The ghost is hesitant to talk about love and the pain and strain associated with it.

I'd hate the strain of the pain again
The ghost fears the pain and hardship that comes with love.

A rush and a push and the land that
The ghost declares that with a little bit of effort and push, they can own the land they stand on.

We stand on is ours
The ghost is talking about the land that they currently occupy and how it should belong to them.

It has been before
The ghost is mentioning that they have owned the land before and hence it should naturally belong to them.

So it shall be again
The ghost believes that the land should naturally return to their ownership.

And people who are uglier than you and I
The ghost is pointing out how even people who are less attractive than them can take away what's theirs.

They take what they need, and just leave
The ghost observes that these people take what they need and leave the rest behind without any qualms.

A rush and a push and the land that
The ghost repeats its earlier assertion that the land is theirs to claim.

We stand on is ours
The ghost reiterates that the land belongs to them.

It has been before
The ghost reminds everyone that they have owned the land in the past too.

So why can't it be now?
The ghost questions why they shouldn't own the land now, as they did in the past.

And people who are weaker than you and I
The ghost points out that even people weaker than them can take away what's theirs.

They take what they want from life
The ghost observes that such people take whatever they need or want from life without any consideration for others.

Oh, but don't mention love
The ghost repeats their reluctance to talk about love and the pain associated with it.

No, no, don't mention love
The ghost emphasizes that they don't want to talk about love at all.

A rush and a push and the land that
The ghost repeats its earlier assertion yet again.

We stand on is ours
The ghost reminds everyone that the land should naturally belong to them.

Your youth may be gone
The ghost acknowledges that the listener may not be young anymore.

But you're still a young man
The ghost encourages the listener by calling them a young man despite their age.

So phone me, phone me
The ghost urges the listener to call them.

So phone me, phone me, phone me
The ghost repeats the earlier request to emphasize its importance.

Oh, I think I'm in love
The ghost suddenly realizes they might be in love.

Oh, I think I'm in love
The ghost emphasizes their earlier realization of being in love.

Oh, I think I'm in love (think I'm in love)
The ghost repeats its earlier assertion about being in love.

Oh, I think I'm in love
The ghost further emphasizes its realization of being in love.