Upper Hand

[Ensign9]

The end of this song needed another 30 seconds.

It's not the Life Wasted fadeout debacle but it cuts out just as it feels like it's about to hit another high.

[warehouse]

clear pink floyd influence here. i got a little radiohead vibe from the opening, but the verses almost clearly remind me of 'brain damage'. i know ed covered that one.

EV sounds like he's going for more of a soulful thing on here.

and then the ending turns into a mike campbell solo on a a fast tom petty song.

this song is incredible. i hope the ending goes on for another 2 minutes live.

[Farmer John]

I love how quickly the acronyms start being used for these song titles, and that a lot of people are going to be referring to this song as UH

[BoltofLightning]

THE DISTANCE TO THE END
IS CLOSER NOW
THAN IT'S EVER BEEN

THE ROAD WE TRAVELED FAR
ALL THE LIGHTS
AND SIGHTS WE SAW

NO ROOM LEFT ON THE PAGES
WE FILLED 'EM UP
AND PAINTED SOME

THOUGH THE BOOK
IT MAY NEVER BE READ BY ANYONE
BY ANYONE BUT ME

AND I HOPE THE PEOPLE ARE SMILING
AND I HOPE THAT TODAY AND EVERYDAY IS GRAND

I APOLOGIZE, SO SORRY 'BOUT THE TIMING
BUT YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT I NEVER HAD
WAS THE UPPER HAND

LONELY SHIP ON THE HORIZON
SILHOUETTE
FADING OUT

BRIGHT LIGHTS MAKE FOR DARK SHADOWS
THE LINES ONCE DEFINED
GETTING BLURRY NOW

AND I HOPE THE PEOPLE ARE SMILING
OH HOW I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE LIKE ONE OF THEM

I APOLOGIZE, SO SORRY 'BOUT THE TIMING
BUT YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT I NEVER HAD
WAS THE UPPER HAND

HELP TO CARRY ME HOME
HELP TO CARRY ME HOME

JUST NEED A FEW OF YOU
MAYBE JUST THE TWO OF YOU.

[WaitingForBluey]

Everyone keeps making reference to an early 90's vibe for Waiting For Stevie but this is the one that has the most early 90's vibe for my money

[WaitingForBluey]

Those opening lines are just golden

[stip]

thats a good opening line for sure. I think only WFS has it beat

[guitar_davey]

WFS makes me *feel* the same way early 90s Pearl Jam does but the song itself sounds new to my ears.

Upper Hand achieves the sound AND the feel of 90s Pearl Jam.

[Tj]

Everyone keeps making reference to an early 90's vibe for Waiting For Stevie but this is the one that has the most early 90's vibe for my money

I agree. This could be on vs . Pearl Jam in 93 wouldn't have that type lift at the end

[Anders]

Blown away by this song.

[Ensign9]

They need to close out shows with this song.

[Homeboyd]

AND I HOPE THE PEOPLE ARE SMILING
AND I HOPE THAT TODAY AND EVERYDAY IS GRAND

I APOLOGIZE, SO SORRY 'BOUT THE TIMING
BUT YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT I NEVER HAD
WAS THE UPPER HAND

This part slays me...the delivery is incredible...this is more 90s than WFS

[Force Of Nature]

This hit me this morning after several listens. Didn’t get the initial love but now I do

[greendisease]

I think this is definitely my favourite on the album. 5/5

[BoltofLightning]

Jeff’s bass underneath “so sorry” is perfection.

[BoltofLightning]

Transition to the outro is so good and Jeff is doing amazing work throughout!

[Monkey_Driven]

Jeff’s bass underneath “so sorry” is perfection.

In an album full of little highlights, this may be my favorite. Ed's delivery of the line is perfect too.

[Jaeti]

Jeff’s bass underneath “so sorry” is perfection.

In an album full of little highlights, this may be my favorite. Ed's delivery of the line is perfect too.

[oftheearth]

AND I HOPE THE PEOPLE ARE SMILING
AND I HOPE THAT TODAY AND EVERYDAY IS GRAND

I APOLOGIZE, SO SORRY 'BOUT THE TIMING
BUT YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT I NEVER HAD
WAS THE UPPER HAND

This part slays me...the delivery is incredible...this is more 90s than WFS

Was just about to post this exact thing. Eddies phrasing and delivery here is top notch, like really took me by surprised how good it is. Instant classic.

[CitizenByron]

I agree with a lot of the sentiments. Great Ed part on "so sorry", great intro, great outro. I was initially a little taken aback by how wildly it takes from Shine On You Crazy Diamond but at the same time, it goes in other directions which I like.