Hard To Imagine

InquisitiveOne
InquisitiveOne 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)
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  • imspinnin
    imspinnin 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.
  • satansbedbugs
    satansbedbugs On Tour Posts: 2,413
    i give mad props to H2I also....sbb
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  • Omarama
    Omarama Posts: 267
    i tried to explain..somehow...
    Monty Got a Raw Deal

    " makes much more sense to live in the present tense "
  • Ms. Haiku
    Ms. Haiku Washington DC Posts: 7,389
    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
  • BinFrog
    BinFrog MA Posts: 7,314
    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!"
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  • 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. Haiku
    Ms. Haiku Washington DC Posts: 7,389
    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
  • Lizard
    Lizard So Cal 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 Surprise
    Rhinocerous 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.
  • fran9480
    fran9480 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_wish
    little_wish England, The North 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
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  • Nothingman54
    Nothingman54 Posts: 2,251
    The words are great but the song sucks!
    I'll be back
  • SpinMeRoundRollMeOvr
    SpinMeRoundRollMeOvr 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.
  • Milestone
    Milestone Posts: 1,143
    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.
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  • SpinMeRoundRollMeOvr
    SpinMeRoundRollMeOvr 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...
  • TWHolt
    TWHolt Moncton, NB Posts: 409
    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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  • Whizbang
    Whizbang 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.

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  • SpinMeRoundRollMeOvr
    SpinMeRoundRollMeOvr 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.
  • spnoone
    spnoone Posts: 633
    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")
  • hrd2imgn
    hrd2imgn Southwest Burbs of Chicago Posts: 4,924
    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

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