About The Song
“Hotel California” was released in 1976 on their album of the same name, it became one of their biggest hits and a timeless classic rock anthem. The song was a commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and performing well on international charts. The song’s cryptic lyrics, inspired by themes of temptation, addiction, and disillusionment, have captivated listeners for generations. “Hotel California” is the Eagles’ fifth studio album and is considered one of their magnum opuses. The album won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1978 and continues to be a cornerstone of classic rock.
The lyrics juxtapose glamour with a hidden, insidious world, suggesting a critique of superficial lifestyles. Don Henley described it as a journey from innocence to experience, reflecting on the seductive allure of fame. The song may symbolize the artificiality of the Los Angeles lifestyle, with the “beast” representing its darker aspects. Set against the backdrop of 1970s America, it explores themes of excess and the loss of innocence. In essence, “Hotel California” serves as a complex commentary on the allure and pitfalls of fame and excess in American culture.
Lyrics
On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
I had to stop for the night
There she stood in the doorway
I heard the mission bell
And I was thinking to myself
"This could be Heaven or this could be Hell"
Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way
There were voices down the corridor
I thought I heard them say
Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place (Such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Any time of year (Any time of year)
You can find it here
Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes bends
She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys she calls friends
How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget
So I called up the Captain
"Please bring me my wine."
He said, "We haven't had that spirit here since nineteen sixty nine."
And still those voices are calling from far away
Wake you up in the middle of the night
Just to hear them say
Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place (Such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face
They livin' it up at the Hotel California
What a nice surprise (what a nice surprise)
Bring your alibis
Mirrors on the ceiling
The pink champagne on ice
And she said "We are all just prisoners here, of our own device"
And in the master's chambers
They gathered for the feast
They stab it with their steely knives
But they just can't kill the beast
Last thing I remember
I was running for the door
I had to find the passage back to the place I was before
"Relax," said the night man
"We are programmed to receive
You can check-out any time you like
But you can never leave!"
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