The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Oh hello
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 bloodstream
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"
Oh, but don't mention love
I'd hate the strain of the pain again
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
Oh, but don't mention love
I'd hate the pain of the strain all over again
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
Oh, but don't mention love
No, no, don't mention love
A rush and a push and the land that
We stand on is ours
Your youth may be gone
But you're still a young man
So phone me, phone me
So phone me, phone me, phone me
Oh, I think I'm in love
Oh, I think I'm in love
Oh, I think I'm in love (think I'm in love)
Oh, I think I'm in love
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 bloodstream
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"
Oh, but don't mention love
I'd hate the strain of the pain again
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
Oh, but don't mention love
I'd hate the pain of the strain all over again
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
Oh, but don't mention love
No, no, don't mention love
A rush and a push and the land that
We stand on is ours
Your youth may be gone
But you're still a young man
So phone me, phone me
So phone me, phone me, phone me
Oh, I think I'm in love
Oh, I think I'm in love
Oh, I think I'm in love (think I'm in love)
Oh, I think I'm in love
Lyrics submitted by Idan, edited by Mellow_Harsher, richardgmp
A Rush and a Push and the Land Is Ours Lyrics as written by Steven Patrick Morrissey Johnny Marr
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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I think the meaning is that he was in a relationship but he mess up ‘’I am the ghost of Troubled Joe hung by his pretty white neck’’ and couldn’t’t hack living away from home ‘’but I missed my bed so I soon came home’’ and the mystical land is the feeling of love ,’’they said’’ refers to the partner "there's too much caffeine in your blood stream and a lack of real spice in your life" meaning your to busy & stressed and have lost the real spice in his life he’s down and depressed… He’s dad question him of a relationship he still likes the person he ended his relationship with but he doesn’t want the stress of it all again… Rush and the push I think means try again and push our self in a relationship ,give it an over go and the land we stand on is ours (live together in the same grounds house ect..) ‘’it has been before, so it shall be again’’. which I think refers to the 1st bit ‘’but I missed my bed ,so I soon came home’’ he’s in two minds. The bit where he said people who are uglier than you and I , think he does mean people who aren’t as attractive but have all the confidents in the world and succeed and take what they want from life, (He’s jealous).. He doesn’t like it when people mention love because it reminds him of what he had before the split. And the phone me phone me bit is hoping the separated partner is feeling the same way, wants to try again and is waiting for the call!!!