Double Vision by Foreigner

Album: Double Vision (1978)

Charted: 2

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Songfacts®:

Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones and vocalist Lou Gramm wrote this song after seeing New York Rangers goalie John Davidson get knocked out during the 1977 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Jones told us: "That's where the title came from. We were at a hockey game. I was an avid Rangers fan in those days, and Lou and I went to a game, and the goaltender for the Rangers got a concussion, and it was announced over the PA that he was taken off and was suffering from double vision. I'd never heard that term before, and we picked up on it. And then that led to the title for that song. I know it was received by a majority of the public as a drug song. I didn't mind that, you know. It wasn't the intention in the beginning, but that's how a lot of people interpreted it."

Davidson went on to become a popular broadcaster and hockey analyst. He and Jones have had a laugh over it several times since. (Check out our interview with Mick Jones.)
This wasn't released as a single in the UK until almost a full year after the release of the album of the same name. It didn't chart there.

Comments: 21

Archer from MarylandThis song is about cocaine, Foreigner, please just admit it already.
Oliver Clothesoff from SomeplaceJones saying he was surprised at this being regarded as a drug song reminds me of Buck Dharma (Blue Öyster Cult) being surprised that “Don’t Fear the Reaper” was regarded as a suicide song. In both cases, it’s hard for me to buy that.
Mark from CaliforniaThe two weeks that "Double Vision" was at #2 on the Hot 100 (having reached that position on 18 November 1978), the Donna Summer version of "MacArthur Park" was at #1.
Wyo.maniac from WyomingThis song is about doing a big blast of either dope or heroine. It pretty much describes it exactly
Me from Usa Lou Gramm in his memoir said ‘Double Vision’ came to him while he was watching on tv the NY Rangers play when he was in the recording studio. He grew up in NY state and is a devoted Rangers fan.
Travler from West-by-godDouble Vision....Meh! Now to "Me",a great Foreigner tune would be...Starrider !!!
Seventhmist from 7th HeavenMy wife and I always figured this song was about drugs. The lyrics can certainly be interpreted that way.
Camille from Toronto, OhI never cared for the song.
Raunchy from Tulsa, OkThis was a huge hit in my area when I was a kid. My older brothers bought the album "Double Vision" too & became Foreigner fans. It wasn't long before I was too. My favorite Foreigner hit is "Dirty White Boy." They performed on Jay Leno's Tonight Show on 01-16-2014 the other night & were awesome. Well, "Double Vision" was such a big hit & at the time, I really didn't care if it was or wasn't about drugs. For me, it was all about the music!
Jg from Joppa, MdThis song is definitely about drugs, just listen to the lyrics.
Love this song.
Dave from Fremont, OhI think that the song could be about alcohol but when they say (when it gets though to me it always new to me) from past expirences it sounds to me with the lyrics of this song they could be talking about a mid to stong dose of LSD
Jennifer Harris from Grand Blanc, MiI love this song,too.Even though I don't drink. I don't do Menage a Trois,either.
Thomas from Somerville, AlIt's not just about drinking, it's about getting f****d up in general.
Donna from College Station, TxNo 3 on top Albums of the year Oct 1978 list, source Billboard 10 years ago list Oct 8, 1988
David from Deerfield Beach, FlPosted 12/5/2007. I remember as a kid I used to go rollerskating a lot and they would play this song often at the roller rink during the fast skate. "Double Vision" was a favorite of mine back then and I would get pumped whenever they played it. I would skate around as fast as I could whenever they did.
Brandon from Peoria, IlI thought this song was bout one of three things (or maybe all three)
1. Drinking so much you get blurry vision
2. Boobs
3. Menage a trois
Brandon from Peoria, IlBurger King used 4 different classic rock songs, one of which was Urgent, another was Double Vision...you are both right...YAY
Nessie from Sapporo, JapanThe verse part is killer. It almost sounds like 10 cc.
Victor from Vienna, Vagreat song, but not as good as "Waiting for a Girl Like You"
Josh from Plainview, NyI'm pretty sure "Urgent" was the song used in Burger King commercials not "Double Vision"
Dave from Cardiff, Wales"Double Vision" came to the attention of the UK's general public in 1998 when it was used in a popular TV commercial for Burger King

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