Complex sentence: Though Michael Stipe's lyrics are generally oblique, it is thought that the title of this song refers to Agent Orange, the defoliant/herbicide used by U.S. forces during the Vietnam War.
Split into simpler sentences: Though Michael Stipe's lyrics are generally oblique, the meaning of this song is debated. It can refer to Agent Orange, the defoliant/herbicide used by U.S. forces during the Vietnam War.