Reggae Cowboys pay tribute to the black cowboys of the past century and the contribution they made to cowboy culture.
Take a look at the pictures to learn a little more about the black cowboys who are honored in the song "Tell the Truth"
Reggae & Country ?
The West Indies meets the Wild West! Country influences are widely pumped through the radio stations and films in the Caribbean islands, so a lot of West Indians grew up listening to country music. Stone grew up watching Westerns starring Clint Eastwood, Gary Cooper, Gabby Hayes, Audie Murphy and Fernando Sancho.
Bronco-bustin' Jesse Stahhl
In the early 1900's, Stahhl competed in an Oregon rodeo and made an extraordinary ride. However, the judges awarded him second place for a ride that deserved a first place finish. It was clear that skin colour had been factored into the final tally. To protest the judges' decision, Jesse rode his next bronc facing backwards with a suitcase in his hand.
Hotel California
Reggae Cowboys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
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 Benz, uh
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 1969"
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're living 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 lyrics to Reggae Cowboys' version of "Hotel California" paint a vivid picture of a traveler on a dark desert highway who stumbles upon a seemingly idyllic place, the Hotel California. As he enters, he realizes that the hotel has a haunting quality and that it is not what it seems. The hotel is described as a place with a warm, welcoming atmosphere, full of pretty young boys and a luxurious lifestyle.
The hotel is both inviting and horrifying, and the lyrics convey a sense of unease as the singer tries to escape from it. The line "They stab it with their steely knives but they just can't kill the beast" is particularly striking, and suggests that the hotel is like a living entity that can't be destroyed. The line "Relax," said the night man, "We are programmed to receive / You can check out any time you like but you can never leave," is a chilling reminder that there is no escape from the hotel, no matter how much the traveler wants to leave.
Overall, the lyrics to "Hotel California" are rife with symbolism, and the song has been subject to numerous interpretations over the years. Some have argued that the song is a critique of the hedonistic lifestyle of the 1970s, while others see it as a commentary on the music industry itself. Others still see the song as a warning about addiction, and the idea that people can become trapped in their own desires and vices.
Line by Line Meaning
On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
I was driving on a lonely road in the middle of nowhere, with the wind blowing through my hair.
Warm smell of colitas rising up through the air
The sweet aroma of burning marijuana was wafting in the air.
Up ahead in the distance I saw a shimmering light
I saw a flashy and attractive display up ahead.
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
I was feeling lightheaded and disoriented.
I had to stop for the night
I had to find somewhere to stay for the night.
There she stood in the doorway, I heard the mission bell
As I approached the entrance, a woman was there to greet me and the sound of a church bell could be heard.
I was thinking to myself this could be Heaven or this could be Hell
I was questioning whether this place was going to be a positive or negative experience for me.
Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way
The woman lit a candle and guided me to where I needed to go.
There were voices down the corridor I thought I heard them say
I thought I heard people talking down the hallway.
Welcome to the Hotel California
I arrived at the Hotel California.
Such a lovely place
The hotel seemed like a beautiful location.
(Such a lovely place)
It was such a stunning and exquisite establishment.
Such a lovely face
The people I met there were all beautiful and charming.
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
The hotel had a lot of vacancies and available space.
Any time of year
The hotel accommodates guests all year round.
(Any time of year)
Regardless of season, the hotel is always open to visitors.
You can find it here
If you're looking for the Hotel California, you'll find it here.
Her mind is Tiffany twisted, she got the Mercedes Benz, uh
The woman who greeted me was materialistic and had a luxury car.
She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys that she calls friends
The woman had many attractive and handsome male acquaintances.
How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat
I observed people dancing and sweating in the outdoor area, enjoying summertime.
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget
People were dancing for different reasons, some to create happy memories, others to forget past pain.
So I called up the captain, "Please bring me my wine"
I requested wine from the hotel staff.
He said, "We haven't had that spirit here since 1969"
The staff informed me that they no longer carried that particular spirit of wine.
And still those voices are calling from far away
Even from a distance, I could hear people speaking and calling out.
Wake you up in the middle of the night just to hear them say
The voices would wake me up in the middle of the night for no reason other than to speak to me.
They're living it up at the Hotel California
People are having fun and indulging in the luxuries the hotel provides.
What a nice surprise
The experience at the hotel was a pleasant surprise.
(What a nice surprise)
It was an unexpectedly enjoyable experience.
Bring your alibis
Visitors should have a reason or excuse prepared for their stay at the hotel.
Mirrors on the ceiling, the pink champagne on ice
The decor of the hotel includes mirrors on the ceiling and champagne kept in ice.
And she said, "We are all just prisoners here of our own device"
The woman said that we are all responsible for our own imprisonment within the hotel.
And in the master's chambers they gathered for the feast
People were gathering in a grand room for a large meal.
They stab it with their steely knives but they just can't kill the beast
People were attempting to overcome a difficult obstacle, but they were unsuccessful.
Last thing I remember I was running for the door
The last thing I remembered was that I was trying to escape through the door.
I had to find the passage back to the place I was before
I needed to find my way back to where I started before arriving at the Hotel California.
"Relax," said the night man, "We are programmed to receive
The hotel staff member informed me that they were programmed to assist me.
You can check out any time you like but you can never leave"
I was allowed to check out of the hotel whenever I wanted, but could not truly leave the experience behind.
Writer(s): Don Henley, Glenn Lewis Frey, Don Felder, Donald Hugh Henley
Contributed by James E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.