“Double Vision” by Foreigner is about life’s intense highs and extremes – be it due to passion, experiences, or other intoxicating moments. It embodies the essence of living life on the edge, constantly pushing limits. The song doesn’t focus on a single person but instead captures a state of mind. It’s a song of exhilaration, the feeling of being invincible, and the thrill of being overwhelmed by life’s experiences.
Ever felt a surge of adrenaline that blurs your reality? That’s what Foreigner’s “Double Vision” encapsulates. Come along; it’s a ride you won’t forget!
“Double Vision” Lyrics Meaning
Right from the first line, “Feeling down n’ dirty, feeling kinda mean”, the song plunges us into a mindset of someone pushing boundaries. The transition from one extreme to another might imply living life with high intensity, where emotions and experiences can shift rapidly. “This time I had a good time, ain’t got time to wait” portrays impatience and the desire to seize the moment. It resonates with a ‘live in the now’ philosophy, where every moment counts.
When the chorus drops in with “Fill my eyes with that double vision”, it suggests being overwhelmed to the point of seeing double – a vivid depiction of being intoxicated, either by love, life, or perhaps even substances. It’s a metaphorical expression about intense experiences that skew one’s perception of reality. “My mind is racing, but my body’s in the lead” brilliantly captures the internal battle between thoughts and actions. It’s about the mind wanting one thing but the body pushing further, highlighting that thrill of chasing extreme experiences.
“I live all of my years in a single minute” underscores the theme of intensity and living in the moment. It’s about packing in a lifetime of experiences in fleeting moments, showing just how exhilarating these episodes can be.
Toward the end, with lines like “It takes me out of my head”, the song reveals a potential escapism theme. Sometimes, these intense experiences serve as an escape from mundane reality.
In essence, “Double Vision” celebrates the rush of life, where everything is amplified. Whether it’s passion, challenges, or exhilarating moments, the song is an anthem to living intensely, even if it means sometimes seeing double.
The Story Behind “Double Vision”
When the band Foreigner started working on the song, they were riding the wave of their debut album’s success. The pressure to produce another hit was intense. This environment, combined with the whirlwind of fame, touring, and the rock-and-roll lifestyle, encapsulated the heady, sometimes overwhelming sensation that the song describes.
Interestingly, the title “Double Vision” was inspired by an actual event. Mick Jones, the band’s guitarist, once mentioned that the song’s inspiration came after watching a hockey game where a player took a hard hit and was suffering from actual double vision. This imagery of someone being hit so hard that their reality distorts struck a chord with the band, which were themselves navigating the dizzying heights of sudden fame.
The song, therefore, isn’t just about the wild lifestyle, but also the mental and emotional toll it takes. The highs were high, and the experiences were intense – but there was also an underlying strain, a blurring between reality and the dreamlike state of being a rock star.
Lou Gramm, the lead vocalist, once hinted at how the song’s lyrics resonated with the band’s life on the road – the hedonism, the escapism, and the moments where everything seemed overwhelming. In essence, “Double Vision” is a reflection of a time in their lives when everything was amplified, for better or worse.