Hotel California
The Eagles Tribute Band Lyrics


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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 me heaven and this could be hell"
Then she lit up a candle and showed me the way
There were voices down the corridor,
I thought i heard them say...

Welcom 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! "

Overall Meaning

The Eagles Tribute Band's epic song Hotel California, which was released in 1977, is a symbolic commentary on the dark side of the American Dream. The lyrics set the stage with a mournful, descriptive mood, plunging the listener into an eerie, deserted landscape. Then, a warm, pungent smell fills the air, and a shimmering light comes into sight. Our imaginations come alive as we are drawn towards the singer's welcoming port of call, and spirits are lifted, only to be later dashed.


The setting for this enchanting abode is never quite spelled out, but it's clear that it represents something timeless and culturally profound, something that seizes the heart and keeps it captive. The verses are structured in a way that builds suspense and raises the stakes, gradually revealing a dream that is, ultimately, doomed to fail. The chorus raises an aura of seduction and false promises and the line "You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave" implies a terrible, inexorable fate that awaits anyone who sets foot inside.


The song has been up for interpretation for decades, with many people interpreting the lyrics in a variety of ways. The meaning behind this song is still unclear and remains one of history's greatest mysteries.


Line by Line Meaning

On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
I was driving on a remote road with the window down and feeling the wind.


Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air
The aroma of a type of desert flower was in the air.


Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light
I saw a bright light shining in the distance.


My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
I was exhausted and my vision blurred.


I had to stop for the night
I needed to find a place to spend the night.


There she stood in the doorway;
A woman was standing in the entrance.


I heard the mission bell
A church bell was ringing nearby.


And I was thinking to myself,
I was having internal thoughts.


"This could me heaven and this could be hell"
The place I was at could either be great or terrible.


Then she lit up a candle and showed me the way
She lit a candle to guide me through the area.


There were voices down the corridor,
I heard sounds coming from a distant hallway.


I thought i heard them say...
I may have heard something but I wasn't sure.


Welcome to the Hotel California
I arrived at the Hotel California.


Such a lovely place (Such a lovely place)
The hotel seemed nice at first glance.


Such a lovely face
It had a beautiful appearance.


Plenty of room at the Hotel California
There were many available rooms at the hotel.


Any time of year (Any time of year)
The hotel was open and accessible throughout the year.


You can find it here
The hotel can be located at this place.


Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes bends
The woman was materialistic and pretentious.


She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys she calls friends
She had many attractive male friends.


How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat.
I observed people dancing in the courtyard, possibly sweating due to hot weather.


Some dance to remember, some dance to forget
Some people are dancing to create memorable experiences while others may be looking to forget them.


So I called up the Captain,
I contacted a hotel staff member.


"Please bring me my wine"
I requested a drink.


He said, "We haven't had that spirit here since nineteen sixty nine"
The hotel hasn't had that drink available for quite some time.


And still those voices are calling from far away,
I continued to hear distant sounds.


Wake you up in the middle of the night
The sounds were awakening people during the night.


Just to hear them say...
People were trying to eavesdrop on the distant voices.


They livin' it up at the Hotel California
People were having a lively time at the hotel.


What a nice surprise (what a nice surprise)
There was a sudden pleasant occurrence.


Bring your alibis
I recommended guests to have proof of their whereabouts.


Mirrors on the ceiling,
I noticed there were mirrors embedded into the hotel's ceiling.


The pink champagne on ice
Champagne was being served chilled.


And she said "We are all just prisoners here, of our own device"
The woman said that the people at the hotel are confined to their own habits and actions.


And in the master's chambers,
I observed a gathering of people in the hotel's most exclusive room.


They gathered for the feast
They were enjoying a feast together.


They stab it with their steely knives,
They are attempting to harm something with sharp tools.


But they just can't kill the beast
The targeted thing cannot be annihilated.


Last thing I remember, I was
My memory is hazy towards the end.


Running for the door
I was in a hurry to leave.


I had to find the passage back
I needed to find the way out of the hotel.


To the place I was before
I was looking to return to where I started.


"Relax, " said the night man,
An employee reassured me.


"We are programmed to receive.
They are prepared to handle people's departures.


You can check-out any time you like,
Guests are allowed to leave at any time.


But you can never leave! "
Leaving the hotel may be harder than it seems.




Contributed by Jason E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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