Upper Hand Question

DB2707
DB2707 Posts: 67
in The Porch
Apologies if this has been discussed before but I think the main character in the song is dead and is looking back on his/her life. 

Do you agree?


Comments

  • We All Believe
    We All Believe Eastchester, NY - Proud South Canadian. Posts: 863
    I had previously looked at it through the lens of a relationship that was ending, like a few of the other DM songs. But I think your interpretation is spot on.
    May your days be long, til kingdom come.
  • benlw86
    benlw86 Posts: 97
    Ooh wow. Adds a lot to 'the two of you' final line.
  • Gern Blansten
    Gern Blansten Mar-A-Lago Posts: 22,511
    DB2707 said:
    Apologies if this has been discussed before but I think the main character in the song is dead and is looking back on his/her life. 

    Do you agree?


    actually I think the band (Mike?) talked about that on Sirius
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  • spankyMP
    spankyMP NY to NC to NH Posts: 2,020
    edited July 2024
    DB2707 said:
    Apologies if this has been discussed before but I think the main character in the song is dead and is looking back on his/her life. 

    Do you agree?


    You are correct the main character is dead and looking back on his life, while looking down at his friends carrying his casket to the grave/funeral. 

    Gern Blansten said:
    DB2707 said:
    Apologies if this has been discussed before but I think the main character in the song is dead and is looking back on his/her life. 

    Do you agree?


    actually I think the band (Mike?) talked about that on Sirius
    This is what I remember as well, but I thought it was Ed. It was the weekend that they played clips of them introducing all of the Dark Matter songs on Sirius.
    Randall's Island 9/29/96, Continental Arena 9/8/98, MSG 9/10/98, Jones Beach 8/23/00, 8/24/00, 8/25/00, Nassau Coliseum 4/30/03, MSG 7/8/03, 7/9/03, Continental Arena 6/1/06, 6/3/06, MSG 6/24/08, 6/25/08, Spectrum 10/30/09, 10/31/09, MSG 5/20/10, 5/21/10, PJ20 9/3/11, 9/4/11, Charlottesville 10/29/13, Charlotte 10/30/13, Global Citizen 9/26/15, Raleigh 4/20/16 :( Baltimore 3/28/20 :( Austin 9/18/23, 9/19/23, Forum 5/21/24, Baltimore 9/12/24, Fenway 9/17/24, Nashville 5/6/25, 5/8/25
  • spankyMP
    spankyMP NY to NC to NH Posts: 2,020
    benlw86 said:
    Ooh wow. Adds a lot to 'the two of you' final line.
    Yes, a few of you, maybe just the two of you can carry me home.
    Randall's Island 9/29/96, Continental Arena 9/8/98, MSG 9/10/98, Jones Beach 8/23/00, 8/24/00, 8/25/00, Nassau Coliseum 4/30/03, MSG 7/8/03, 7/9/03, Continental Arena 6/1/06, 6/3/06, MSG 6/24/08, 6/25/08, Spectrum 10/30/09, 10/31/09, MSG 5/20/10, 5/21/10, PJ20 9/3/11, 9/4/11, Charlottesville 10/29/13, Charlotte 10/30/13, Global Citizen 9/26/15, Raleigh 4/20/16 :( Baltimore 3/28/20 :( Austin 9/18/23, 9/19/23, Forum 5/21/24, Baltimore 9/12/24, Fenway 9/17/24, Nashville 5/6/25, 5/8/25
  • cincybearcat
    cincybearcat Posts: 16,895
    spankyMP said:
    DB2707 said:
    Apologies if this has been discussed before but I think the main character in the song is dead and is looking back on his/her life. 

    Do you agree?


    You are correct the main character is dead and looking back on his life, while looking down at his friends carrying his casket to the grave/funeral. 

    Gern Blansten said:
    DB2707 said:
    Apologies if this has been discussed before but I think the main character in the song is dead and is looking back on his/her life. 

    Do you agree?


    actually I think the band (Mike?) talked about that on Sirius
    This is what I remember as well, but I thought it was Ed. It was the weekend that they played clips of them introducing all of the Dark Matter songs on Sirius.
    Pretty sure when I heard it is was Mike.  It was definitely not Ed (when I heard it).  But yes, was mentioning to view the song as from the perspective of someone that just passed away.  
    hippiemom = goodness
  • spankyMP
    spankyMP NY to NC to NH Posts: 2,020
    cincybearcat said:
    spankyMP said:
    DB2707 said:
    Apologies if this has been discussed before but I think the main character in the song is dead and is looking back on his/her life. 

    Do you agree?


    You are correct the main character is dead and looking back on his life, while looking down at his friends carrying his casket to the grave/funeral. 

    Gern Blansten said:
    DB2707 said:
    Apologies if this has been discussed before but I think the main character in the song is dead and is looking back on his/her life. 

    Do you agree?


    actually I think the band (Mike?) talked about that on Sirius
    This is what I remember as well, but I thought it was Ed. It was the weekend that they played clips of them introducing all of the Dark Matter songs on Sirius.
    Pretty sure when I heard it is was Mike.  It was definitely not Ed (when I heard it).  But yes, was mentioning to view the song as from the perspective of someone that just passed away.  
    Gotcha
    Randall's Island 9/29/96, Continental Arena 9/8/98, MSG 9/10/98, Jones Beach 8/23/00, 8/24/00, 8/25/00, Nassau Coliseum 4/30/03, MSG 7/8/03, 7/9/03, Continental Arena 6/1/06, 6/3/06, MSG 6/24/08, 6/25/08, Spectrum 10/30/09, 10/31/09, MSG 5/20/10, 5/21/10, PJ20 9/3/11, 9/4/11, Charlottesville 10/29/13, Charlotte 10/30/13, Global Citizen 9/26/15, Raleigh 4/20/16 :( Baltimore 3/28/20 :( Austin 9/18/23, 9/19/23, Forum 5/21/24, Baltimore 9/12/24, Fenway 9/17/24, Nashville 5/6/25, 5/8/25
  • yosi
    yosi NYC Posts: 3,167
    Wow. Did not know that at all. Thanks. 
    you couldn't swing if you were hangin' from a palm tree in a hurricane

  • Hankj25
    Hankj25 Posts: 388
    Interesting because I picked up on this at the very first listen. “I hope the people are smiling” is clearly about looking down at your friends and family who are attending your funeral.  

    But now I actually see how some may have thought Upper Hand is a more relationship based metaphor.  
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  • deb1211
    deb1211 Posts: 2,088
    I feel i have heard Ed talk about the coffin and how he finally has the upper hand because he's gone
  • jarfitz1
    jarfitz1 Indianapolis Posts: 58
    My interpretation is that it's told from the perspective of someone facing their own death, which is near.  "The distance to then end is closer now than it's ever been..."  The first verse is about looking back at having a full life.  The second verse is about Ed, specifically, "I hope the people are smiling. Oh how I always wanted to be like one of them...".  Also "bright lights make for dark shadows" suggests to me that he's talking about his fame and the challenges that have come with it.  The Upper Hand being some sort of higher power that decides when your time comes; that it's not in my (his) control.  That's how I hear the song anyway.
  • The Juggler
    The Juggler Posts: 49,598
    ^
    Yeah I have always thought it was someone facing a certain death in the near future...
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