Hotel California
일團있뚠The Eagles Lyrics
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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
'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, that 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!
The song "Hotel California" by The Eagles was released in 1977 and has remained a classic rock song since then. The lyrics describe a journey into a mysterious hotel located on a dark desert highway. The singer is commenting on the strange occurrences that happen within and the difficulty of escaping once you've entered. The first stanza describes the singer's journey to the hotel and his initial impressions of it. The line "Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air" is open to interpretation. Many speculate that the "colitas" in reference are a slang term for marijuana.
The second stanza goes on to introduce a woman who seems to be significant in the story. She appears to be an enigma, with "Tiffany-twisted" thinking and a Mercedes Benz. The singer soon discovers that the hotel is filled with suspicious characters, and they all seem to be hiding something. The third stanza hints at the idea that everyone in the establishment is a prisoner of their own making. The final stanza wraps up the story in a dramatic ending where the singer finds a way to escape the hotel but is left with the unsettling knowledge that he can never truly leave the memories of what happened behind.
Line by Line Meaning
On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
Driving aimlessly in the dark while feeling disconnected from the world
Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air
A nostalgic aroma that brings back memories of better times
Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light
A glimmer of hope in the midst of despair
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
Being overwhelmed and unable to focus
I had to stop for the night
Giving up and accepting the current situation
There she stood in the doorway
A mysterious figure who could either offer salvation or damnation
I heard the mission bell
A call to action or a warning of impending doom
'This could be heaven or this could be Hell
The uncertain nature of the situation
Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way
Guidance towards a new path or a new way of thinking
There were voices down the corridor
Distracting or misleading influences
Welcome to the Hotel California
A metaphor for being trapped within one's own mind
Such a lovely place (such a lovely place)
The allure of temporary comfort and distraction
Such a lovely face
The superficial appeal of the situation
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
The illusion of freedom within one's own mind
Any time of year (any time of year) you can find it here
The persistent availability of the temptation to stay in a complacent state of mind
Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes bends
The glamorous appearance of the tempting distractions within one's own mind
She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys, that she calls friends
The seductive nature of distractions that seem harmless but are ultimately destructive
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget
The personal motivations behind indulging in distractions
So I called up the Captain
Seeking guidance or assistance from a higher authority
'Please bring me my wine
An attempt to drown out reality or gain temporary pleasure
He said, 'we haven't had that spirit here since nineteen sixty-nine
The impossibility of truly escaping reality, no matter how hard one tries
And still those voices are calling from far away
The persistence of distractions and unhealthy coping mechanisms
Wake you up in the middle of the night
Tormenting thoughts that cannot be silenced
Just to hear them say
The temptation to give in to distractions and unhealthy coping mechanisms
They livin' it up at the Hotel California
The illusion of others' happiness and fulfillment
What a nice surprise (what a nice surprise), bring your alibis
The acceptance of deceit and dishonesty in order to maintain the illusion of happiness
Mirrors on the ceiling
The distorted perceptions that come with indulging in escapism and distractions
The pink champagne on ice
The superficial indulgences that provide temporary pleasure but do not actually solve any problems
And she said, 'we are all just prisoners here, of our own device
The realization that one's own mind is the source of one's suffering
And in the master's chambers
The toxic influence of those who seek to control others
They gathered for the feast
The indulgence in harmful behaviors and thought patterns
They stab it with their steely knives
Attempts to eliminate the negative effects of these harmful behaviors and thought patterns
But they just can't kill the beast
The persistence of these harmful behaviors and thought patterns despite attempts to eliminate them
Last thing I remember, I was
The sudden realization that one has been controlled by their own mind and its distractions
Running for the door
Attempting to escape from the unhealthy coping mechanisms and distractions within one's own mind
I had to find the passage back to the place I was before
Seeking to return to a more grounded and healthy mental state
'Relax' said the night man
The temptation to remain in the complacent state of mind
'We are programmed to receive
The influence of societal and cultural norms that perpetuate unhealthy coping mechanisms and distractions
You can check out any time you like
The belief that one can escape their own mind at any time they choose
But you can never leave!
The realization that one can never truly escape their own mind and its distractions
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DON FELDER, DON HENLEY, GLENN FREY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind