A Rush and a Push and the Land Is Ours

"A Rush and a Push and the Land Is Ours" is a 1987 song by English alternative rock band the Smiths, which appeared as the opening track for the band's 1987 final album, Strangeways, Here We Come. Written by Morrissey and Johnny Marr, the song features no guitar and was inspired musically by Reparata's "Shoes" and lyrically by Oscar Wilde's mother, Jane Wilde.

"A Rush and a Push and the Land Is Ours"
Song by The Smiths
from the album Strangeways, Here We Come
Released28 September 1987
RecordedMarch–April 1987
StudioThe Wool Hall, Beckington, Somerset
GenreAlternative rock
Length3:00
LabelRough Trade
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Morrissey
  • Johnny Marr

Since its release, "A Rush and a Push and the Land Is Ours" has since seen praise from music writers for its lyrics and melody. It has also been covered by American progressive metal band Coheed and Cambria.

Background

"A Rush and a Push and the Land Is Ours" represented a conscious decision by Johnny Marr to deviate from the band's recognizable jangle pop sound, in that it featured no guitars at all. Bassist Andy Rourke, reflecting on the song, noted the moment as a "first" for the band.[1] Marr explained:

Before Strangeways was done, for a few months before I really wanted to open the album, however I was going to do it, with a song with no guitar parts on it…as a challenge and also I was kinda very bored of the whole 'jingle jangle' thing, it seemed like we were being put in that box…so I thought I'd try and sneak on the first track onto the album and see if anyone noticed. And nobody noticed until I told everybody.[2]

Musically, the song was inspired by the song "Shoes" 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."[3]

The song's title originated from a poem written by Oscar Wilde's mother, Jane Wilde, which discussed an republican takeover of Ireland's government.[4] Morrissey took inspiration from his experience as the son of Irish immigrants on the track's lyrics.[5]

Reception

"A Rush and a Push and the Land Is Ours" has seen positive critical reception since its release. Consequence of Sound praised the song's "Vintage, Grade-A, insulting lyrics,"[6] while The Vinyl District noted the song's "lovely melody and lots of neat percussion."[7]

Pop Matters named the song as the band's ninth best, noting, "the Smiths sound actually menacing" on the song.[8] Rolling Stone ranked the song as the Smiths' 36th best song, while Consequence of Sound named it as the band's 53rd best track.[9]

Comedian Stephen Merchant 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?'"[10]

Cover versions

American progressive metal band Coheed and Cambria covered the song in 2010, as part of the AV Club's Undercover series, where bands covered songs off of a list of 25 selected by the AV Club. Lead singer Claudio Sanchez 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."[11]

References
  1. The Mojo Collection: 4th Edition. Canongate Books. p. 521. ISBN 978-1-84767-643-6.
  2. Aubrey, Elizabeth (28 March 2020). "Johnny Marr opens up in fan Q&A about the songs he wished he'd written". NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs | NME.COM. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  3. Erdman, Derek. "Trying to Talk to Johnny Marr About Shoes". The Stranger. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  4. "Ranking: Every Song by The Smiths from Worst to Best". Consequence of Sound. 21 February 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  5. Power, Ed (16 March 2020). "Why Morrissey's recent downfall echoes the messy demise of The Smiths". The Independent. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  6. Gerber, Justin (4 February 2009). "Dusting 'Em Off: The Smiths – Strangeways, Here We Come". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  7. Little, Michael H. (12 August 2020). "Graded on a Curve: The Smiths, Strangeways, Here We Come". The Vinyl District. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  8. Beasley, Corey (1 July 2011). "Still Ill: The Best 13 Songs by the Smiths". PopMatters. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  9. Sheffield, Rob (1 August 2017). "Rob Sheffield Ranks All 73 Smiths Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  10. Bosso, Joe. "Stephen Merchant: the 10 records that changed my life". MusicRadar. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  11. Coplan, Chris (13 July 2010). "Coheed and Cambria cover The Smiths' "A Rush and a Push and the Land Is Ours"". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
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