"A Rush and a Push and the Land Is Ours" is a 1987 song by English
alternative rock
Alternative rock, or alt-rock, is a category of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1970s and became widely popular in the 1990s. "Alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from mainstream or commerci ...
band
the Smiths
The Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982. They comprised the singer Morrissey, the guitarist Johnny Marr, the bassist Andy Rourke and the drummer Mike Joyce. They are regarded as one of the most important acts to eme ...
, which appeared as the opening track for the band's 1987 final album, ''
Strangeways, Here We Come
''Strangeways, Here We Come'' is the fourth and final studio album by English rock band the Smiths. It was released on 28 September 1987 by Rough Trade Records, several months after the group had disbanded. All of the songs were composed by Jo ...
''. Written by
Morrissey and
Johnny Marr, the song features no guitar and was inspired musically by
Reparata's "
Shoes
A shoe is an item of footwear intended to protect and comfort the human foot. They are often worn with a sock. Shoes are also used as an item of decoration and fashion. The design of shoes has varied enormously through time and from culture t ...
" and lyrically by
Oscar Wilde's mother,
Jane Wilde
Jane Francesca Agnes, Lady Wilde (née Elgee; 27 December 1821 – 3 February 1896) was an Irish poet under the pen name Speranza and supporter of the nationalist movement. Lady Wilde had a special interest in Irish folktales, which she help ...
.
Since its release, "A Rush and a Push and the Land Is Ours" has since seen praise from music writers for its enigmatic lyrics, whose meaning is still debated and for its melody. It has also been covered by American
progressive metal
Progressive metal (sometimes shortened to prog metal) is a broad fusion music genre melding heavy metal and progressive rock, combining the loud "aggression" and amplified guitar-driven sound of the former with the more experimental, cerebral ...
band
Coheed and Cambria
Coheed and Cambria are an American progressive rock band from Nyack, New York, formed in 1995. The band consists of Claudio Sanchez (vocals, guitars, keyboards), Travis Stever (guitars, vocals), Josh Eppard (drums, keyboards, backing vocals), ...
.
Background
"A Rush and a Push and the Land Is Ours" represented a conscious decision by
Johnny Marr to deviate from the band's recognisable
jangle pop
Jangle pop is a subgenre of pop rock or college rock that emphasizes jangly guitars and 1960s-style pop melodies. The term originated from Bob Dylan's song " Mr. Tambourine Man", whose 1965 rendition by the Byrds became considered one of the g ...
sound, in that it featured no guitars at all. Bassist
Andy Rourke
Andrew Michael Rourke (born 17 January 1964) is an English musician, best known as the bassist of the Smiths. He is known for his melodic approach to bass playing.
Career
Rourke's father was Irish while his mother was English. He received an a ...
, reflecting on the song, noted the moment as a "first" for the band.
Marr explained:
Musically, the song was inspired by the song "
Shoes
A shoe is an item of footwear intended to protect and comfort the human foot. They are often worn with a sock. Shoes are also used as an item of decoration and fashion. The design of shoes has varied enormously through time and from culture t ...
" by
Reparata, a song that both Marr and Morrissey were fans of. Marr said, "It was inspired by
Shoes" yeah—the bulk of that tune I kind of remembered from being a kid while it was on the English charts. I liked the electric piano—it stuck in my subconscious. It's funny how these things come out."
The song's title originated from a poem written by
Oscar Wilde's mother,
Jane Wilde
Jane Francesca Agnes, Lady Wilde (née Elgee; 27 December 1821 – 3 February 1896) was an Irish poet under the pen name Speranza and supporter of the nationalist movement. Lady Wilde had a special interest in Irish folktales, which she help ...
, which discussed a
republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
takeover of Ireland's government.
Morrissey took inspiration from his experience as the son of Irish immigrants on the track's lyrics.
Reception
"A Rush and a Push and the Land Is Ours" has seen positive critical reception since its release. ''
Consequence of Sound
''Consequence'' (previously ''Consequence of Sound'') is an independently owned New York-based online magazine featuring news, editorials, and reviews of music, movies, and television. In addition, the website also features the Festival Outlook ...
'' praised the song's "Vintage, Grade-A, insulting lyrics,"
while ''The Vinyl District'' noted the song's "lovely melody and lots of neat percussion."
''Pop Matters'' named the song as the band's ninth best, noting, "the Smiths sound actually menacing" on the song.
''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...
'' ranked the song as the Smiths' 36th best song, while ''
Consequence of Sound
''Consequence'' (previously ''Consequence of Sound'') is an independently owned New York-based online magazine featuring news, editorials, and reviews of music, movies, and television. In addition, the website also features the Festival Outlook ...
'' named it as the band's 53rd best track.
Comedian
Stephen Merchant
Stephen James Merchant (born 24 November 1974) is an English comedian, actor, director, presenter and writer.
Alongside Ricky Gervais, Merchant was the co-writer and co-director of the British TV comedy series ''The Office'' (2001–2003), and ...
praised the song, stating that the song "has this electrifying opening; it sort of eases in slowly with this fade and then the guitars (sic) come crashing in. That had the same impact on me as the opening chord to "
A Hard Day's Night." It just gets into your bones immediately. You hear it and you think, 'This is so incredible. Why have I been deprived of this for so long?
Cover versions
American
progressive metal
Progressive metal (sometimes shortened to prog metal) is a broad fusion music genre melding heavy metal and progressive rock, combining the loud "aggression" and amplified guitar-driven sound of the former with the more experimental, cerebral ...
band
Coheed and Cambria
Coheed and Cambria are an American progressive rock band from Nyack, New York, formed in 1995. The band consists of Claudio Sanchez (vocals, guitars, keyboards), Travis Stever (guitars, vocals), Josh Eppard (drums, keyboards, backing vocals), ...
covered the song in 2010, as part of ''
The A.V. Club
''The A.V. Club'' is an American online newspaper and entertainment website featuring reviews, interviews, and other articles that examine films, music, television, books, games, and other elements of pop-culture media. ''The A.V. Club'' was cre ...
'' Undercover series, where bands covered songs off of a list of 25 selected by ''The AV Club''. Lead singer
Claudio Sanchez
Claudio Paul Sanchez III (born March 12, 1978)Sanchez, Claudio: "The Amory Wars Sketchbook", page 30. Evil Ink, 2007. is an American writer and musician of Puerto Rican and Italian descentKitchen Chronicles: The Menna Family (New York, 2003, p.3 ...
reportedly did not know the song well before covering it. ''Consequence of Sound'' described their version as "a song that is of equal ferocity as any from their own catalog and an eerily joyous ode to the legendary UK outfit."
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rush and a Push and the Land Is Ours, A
1987 songs
The Smiths songs
Songs written by Johnny Marr
Songs written by Morrissey
Songs about Ireland