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Hard To Imagine

InquisitiveOneInquisitiveOne Posts: 169
edited August 2006 in Words and Music...Communication
Beautiful... I sing it at the top of my lungs... and it still doesn't feel like I will ever be able do it emotionally enough...


inquis
"Now when people ask me, where's my favorite place to play, I'll reply, Newark NJ!" -EV (solo '08)
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • imspinninimspinnin Posts: 933
    I love this song...you just can't help but kick back and take it all in...."It's hard to imagine....things were different then... all is different now..."
    If I could be anything in the world I would be your teardrop...I would be born in your eyes, live on your cheeks, and die on your lips.
  • satansbedbugssatansbedbugs Posts: 2,412
    i give mad props to H2I also....sbb
    *Marker in the Sand Fanclub * HNIC

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  • OmaramaOmarama Posts: 267
    i tried to explain..somehow...
    Monty Got a Raw Deal

    " makes much more sense to live in the present tense "
  • Ms. HaikuMs. Haiku Posts: 7,265
    Paint a picture visions only grey
    Light your pillow. Lay back. Watch the flames.
    I'll tell a story but no one would listen that long.

    It's hard to imagine. It's hard to imagine.
    Ohh [x4]

    Tear into yourself count days on your arm.
    Ah the beating ticking like a bomb.
    After having seen all that they saw.

    This is the part that defines the song, but i'm not sure what it is about.
    There is no such thing as leftover pizza. There is now pizza and later pizza. - anonymous
    The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
  • BinFrogBinFrog Posts: 7,309
    When they broke into HTI at Montreal 98, it was one of my all-time concert freak outs.
    Bright eyed kid: "Wow Typo Man, you're the best!"
    Typo Man: "Thanks kidz, but remembir, stay in skool!"
  • Fetus Jr.Fetus Jr. Posts: 26
    Ms. Haiku wrote:
    Paint a picture visions only grey
    Light your pillow. Lay back. Watch the flames.
    I'll tell a story but no one would listen that long.

    It's hard to imagine. It's hard to imagine.
    Ohh [x4]

    Tear into yourself count days on your arm.
    Ah the beating ticking like a bomb.
    After having seen all that they saw.

    This is the part that defines the song, but i'm not sure what it is about.

    IMO, it's just about the feeling of being very depressed, or even suicidal. Painting a picture in only grey, with no bright lovely colors. I'd tell a story but no one would listen that long, the feeling of having no self-esteem, no self-worth. Tear into yourself, apparently someone who cuts themselves just to feel. Counting the scars, one for each day. I believe it his the person's heart that beats like a bomb that could go off at any moment, potentially ending all that they are. Then, I have trouble with the last line......

    That's my interpretation anyways....I don't know if I'm just stating the obvious but.,.....great song though, my favorite from that disc.
    I traded magic for fact...then I traded back.
  • Ms. HaikuMs. Haiku Posts: 7,265
    I think you're right. That makes sense.
    There is no such thing as leftover pizza. There is now pizza and later pizza. - anonymous
    The risk I took was calculated, but man, am I bad at math - The Mincing Mockingbird
  • LizardLizard Posts: 12,091
    So my husband has always loved this song and his initial reaction was that it reminded him of the Holocaust. makes sense to me if you listen to it. and wasn't Schindler's list all in black and white--or "using only gray"? I'd tell a story--no one'd listen that long...and the counting days on your arm. other things too.

    Any way---great song. SO glad I got to hear it in Santa Barbara.
    So I'll just lie down and wait for the dream
    Where I'm not ugly and you're lookin' at me
  • Rhinocerous SurpriseRhinocerous Surprise Posts: 4,423
    Fetus Jr. wrote:
    IMO, it's just about the feeling of being very depressed, or even suicidal. Painting a picture in only grey, with no bright lovely colors. I'd tell a story but no one would listen that long, the feeling of having no self-esteem, no self-worth. Tear into yourself, apparently someone who cuts themselves just to feel. Counting the scars, one for each day. I believe it his the person's heart that beats like a bomb that could go off at any moment, potentially ending all that they are. Then, I have trouble with the last line......

    That's my interpretation anyways....I don't know if I'm just stating the obvious but.,.....great song though, my favorite from that disc.

    I'm guessing that 'having seen all that they saw' is the narrator saying that he's disillusioned, he has experienced it all and is still unfulfilled, and that's why he 'cuts' himself.
    Smokey Robinson constantly looks like he's trying to act natural after being accused of farting.
  • fran9480fran9480 Posts: 53
    I've always heard "using only grey" not "vision only grey" but maybe that's because I'm young, white, and misunderstood. The Ten Club lyrics confuse the crap out of me. Look at "Alone," eew.
  • little_wishlittle_wish Posts: 532
    InquisitiveOne wrote:
    This song is just.... what can I say? just beautifully sad.... I sing it at the top of my lungs... and it still doesn't feel like I will ever be able do it emotionally enough.....

    .
    I could not agree more fully

    It's so rare to find a song that gives u that feeling and it has so much power and emotion

    I love it
    20-04-2006 04-09-2006 05-09-2006 11-09-2006 16-09-2006 17-09-2006 18-06-2007 21-06-2007 26-06-2007 28-06-2007 17-08-2009 20-05-2010 21-05-2010

    "The live shows? Well, that's church on Sundays"
  • Nothingman54Nothingman54 Posts: 2,251
    The words are great but the song sucks!
    I'll be back
  • SpinMeRoundRollMeOvrSpinMeRoundRollMeOvr Posts: 437
    are you serious? This song gives me chills! When Eddie sings "I tried to explain", it's like he's growling... so emotional.
  • MilestoneMilestone Posts: 1,140
    great song. i still think the studio version beats all live versions.
    11-2-2000 Portland. 12-8-2002 Seattle. 4-18-2003 Nashville. 5-30-2003 Vancouver. 10-25-2003 Bridge School. 9-2-2005 Vancouver.
    7-6-2006 Las Vegas. 7-20-2006 Portland. 7-22-2006 Gorge. 9-21-2009 Seattle. 9-22-2009 Seattle. 9-26-2009 Ridgefield. 9-25-2011 Vancouver.
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  • SpinMeRoundRollMeOvrSpinMeRoundRollMeOvr Posts: 437
    I'd have to agree, but I've never seen it live. I've always felt that live songs sometimes lack that "spark" when you've never seen it before...
  • TWHoltTWHolt Posts: 404
    Opened the halifax show with it and talk about chills.....dark blue slightly lit up the stage, all the guys on stools. Stone starts the riff....matt follows with a light beat as Eddie begins.... "Paint a picture.......". The song continues, the boys remain in their stools until after the second chorus when the guitar strum kicks in. One by one...Stone, Mike, Jeff stand up. Eddie waits before standing until the moment he bellows out "OHHH OHHHHHH OHHHHH". Now standing looking to the sky! Absolutely set the atmosphere! Amazing experience.
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  • WhizbangWhizbang Posts: 1,314
    Boozer wrote:
    Opened the halifax show with it and talk about chills.....dark blue slightly lit up the stage, all the guys on stools. Stone starts the riff....matt follows with a light beat as Eddie begins.... "Paint a picture.......". The song continues, the boys remain in their stools until after the second chorus when the guitar strum kicks in. One by one...Stone, Mike, Jeff stand up. Eddie waits before standing until the moment he bellows out "OHHH OHHHHHH OHHHHH". Now standing looking to the sky! Absolutely set the atmosphere! Amazing experience.

    damn....that description just gave me the chills. thank you.

    I was only recently turned on to this song. creeping into my top all time right now
    believe it or not, we don't "need" anything. that is only the spoiled brat in us trying to fill some temporary solution to an emptyness that does not exist.

    I have eaten so much gold I crapped excellence - drtyfrnk29

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  • SpinMeRoundRollMeOvrSpinMeRoundRollMeOvr Posts: 437
    Boozer wrote:
    Opened the halifax show with it and talk about chills.....dark blue slightly lit up the stage, all the guys on stools. Stone starts the riff....matt follows with a light beat as Eddie begins.... "Paint a picture.......". The song continues, the boys remain in their stools until after the second chorus when the guitar strum kicks in. One by one...Stone, Mike, Jeff stand up. Eddie waits before standing until the moment he bellows out "OHHH OHHHHHH OHHHHH". Now standing looking to the sky! Absolutely set the atmosphere! Amazing experience.

    That must have been unreal. I love the blue lights they've been using to open the shows... seeing Release and Long Road, each for the first time, close up and with that blue light was like a dream.
  • spnoonespnoone Posts: 630
    on any of the boots, does ed sing the old lyrics? ("fuck tradition, no one's safe from harm" instead of "heart a beating, ticking like a bomb")
  • hrd2imgnhrd2imgn Posts: 4,898
    edited August 2010
    Good thread for me.

    I miss this song every tour, and it hurts more every time I miss it. Missed it by one show two times already. I don;t know what I'd do if they ever play it live when I am there.


    I like both versions too. Favorite lines: Heart a beatin tickin like a bomb, after having senn all that they saw......

    since this thread started in 06 I have now seen it 4 times...and man I loved every one of them!
    Post edited by hrd2imgn on
  • darthvedder88darthvedder88 Posts: 1,023
    To me, the song is about gaining the courage to release some emotion or secret that you've kept in for so long, but were afraid to for some reason.
    "Darth Vader would say 'Impressive'."

    -Eddie Vedder

    6/24/06 Cincinatti, Ohio
    6/14/08 Manchester, Tennessee
  • bucket1988bucket1988 Posts: 212
    AOL Sessions version is bomb.
    The words you say never seem to live up to the ones inside your head...
  • circles downcircles down Posts: 182
    When they busted into this at the Gorge in 05 it became and has remained my all time best concert moment, maybe one of my all time moments period!

    1. birth of daughter
    2. wedding
    3. hard to imagine at the gorge
  • josevolutionjosevolution Posts: 29,538
    i allways wanted to hear this song and my dream became reality at the meadowlands show this year 2nd night i had 1st row seat directly in front of stone and when he broke into it i was totally satisfied that song made my night.......
    jesus greets me looks just like me ....
  • PappasPappas Posts: 809
    I'LL TRY TO EXPLAIN, I HOPE THIS WORKS SOMEHOW


    one of the all time great tracks, highly underrated

    hope i hear it live in the 5 aust shows im goin to
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  • imspinninimspinnin Posts: 933
    This tune..get's me in tuned.
    Love it, love it!!!
    Opens up the mind, heart and soul...:o
    If I could be anything in the world I would be your teardrop...I would be born in your eyes, live on your cheeks, and die on your lips.
  • AnonAnon Posts: 11,175
    Pappas wrote:
    I'LL TRY TO EXPLAIN, I HOPE THIS WORKS SOMEHOW


    one of the all time great tracks, highly underrated

    hope i hear it live in the 5 aust shows im goin to

    I'm looking at 7 shows, possibly 9, and this song is definitely at the top of my list!!! I don't know what i'll do if i miss it and then they play it in Perth....
  • humanlighthumanlight Posts: 271
    Fetus Jr. wrote:
    IMO, it's just about the feeling of being very depressed, or even suicidal. Painting a picture in only grey, with no bright lovely colors. I'd tell a story but no one would listen that long, the feeling of having no self-esteem, no self-worth. Tear into yourself, apparently someone who cuts themselves just to feel. Counting the scars, one for each day. I believe it his the person's heart that beats like a bomb that could go off at any moment, potentially ending all that they are. Then, I have trouble with the last line......

    That's my interpretation anyways....I don't know if I'm just stating the obvious but.,.....great song though, my favorite from that disc.


    I think you are right on. I believe this person is at the calm before the storm. It is sort of like in those movies where a soldier is in a war and everyone slows down, you only hear the person's heart beat. And in that moment the soldier has decided that this is his reality. He can either fight, or give into the death. I think the song expresses that moment. The last line is about that look around and remembering all the bullshit that he/she has seen.
    "F**K you, I have laundry to do" -ed
  • SpunkieSpunkie Posts: 6,672
    One night, I taken into the woods to camp overnight. Me and my friend were having a hard time getting the fire going. So we torched the pillow. We would have burned my sleeping bag too, but it was of a particular, form fitting design. That's the memory I recall in hearing "Light your pillow.."
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