Hard to Imagine Lyrics

Lyric discussion by flipflingo 

Cover art for Hard to Imagine lyrics by Pearl Jam

I think this is a war reflection song. Mainly, an older war, where people could only see the coverage on black and white TV. The story is about what is really going on behind all of the news, a story told by a veteran of that war, but no one wants to hear it. Then the second verse is about the veteran flashing back.

Tear into yourself cuttings on your arm Heart-a-beatin', tickin' like a bomb After having seen all that they saw

Then after they get back to the home country everythings changed. It's hard for them to grasp.

That is what I think of whe I hear this song.

@flipflingo i saw a suggestion on a pearl jam forum that the song was about a war vet having difficulty re-adjusting to civilian life. The more I look at the lyrics, the more I like this explanation.