Hotel California
Various Artists Lyrics


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On a dark desert highway
Cool wind in my hair
The 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 face
There's plenty of room at the hotel california
Any time of year, you can find it here

Her mind is definitely twisted
She's got her mercedes benz
She's got a lotta 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 they're 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 face
They're livin' it up at the hotel california
What a nice surprise, bring your alibis

Mirrors on the ceilling, the pink champaign on ice
And she said we are all just prisoners here of our own device
In the masters chambers they're gathered for the feast
They stab it with their steely knifes but they just can't kill the beast

Last thing i remember, i was runnin' for the door
I had to find the passage back to the place i was before




good night said the night man we are programmed to receive
You can check out anyytime you like, but you can never leave

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Hotel California" by Eagles are both haunting and captivating, filled with vivid imagery and a sense of longing. The song tells the story of a traveler who finds himself on a deserted road at night, where he sees a shimmering light in the distance. As he reaches his destination, he finds himself in the Hotel California, a place that's both alluring and dangerous.


The first verse paints the picture of the singer on a dark road, with the wind blowing through his hair and the smell of colitas in the air. He sees a shimmering light in the distance and is compelled to investigate. As he arrives at the hotel, he is welcomed by a woman and is ushered inside. The chorus expresses the allure of the hotel, with its lovely face and plenty of rooms available at any time of the year.


As the song progresses, the singer realizes that there's a dark side to the hotel. There are "pretty boys" and a "twisted" woman, and the sense of euphoria and excess can turn dangerous. The chorus reappears, but this time with a dark twist, as the singer realizes that he's trapped and can never leave.


Line by Line Meaning

On a dark desert highway
Driving on a deserted dark road


Cool wind in my hair
Feeling the wind blowing through hair


The warm smell of colitas / Rising up through the air
Sensual scent in the air


Up ahead in the distance / I saw a shimmering light
Noticing a light in the distance


My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim / I had to stop for the night
Feeling tired and stopping 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
Arriving at a door and feeling uncertain about what's inside


Then she lit up a candle / And she showed me the way / There were voices down the corridor / I thought i heard them say
A candle is lit, showing the way forward towards strange voices


Welcome to the hotel california / Such a lovely place, such a lovely face / There's plenty of room at the hotel california / Any time of year, you can find it here
Arriving at the strange location of the Hotel California, which is advertised as a welcoming place


Her mind is definitely twisted / She's got her mercedes benz / She's got a lotta pretty, pretty boys / That she calls friends / How they dance in the courtyard / Sweet summer sweat / Some dance to remember / Some dance to forget
The woman who greeted the artist is eccentric and has attractive friends who dance sensually


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 they're calling from far away / Wake you up in the middle of the night / Just to hear them say
Asking for wine, but being informed that it's no longer available. Hearing eerie voices calling out in the night.


Mirrors on the ceilling, the pink champaign on ice / And she said we are all just prisoners here of our own device / In the masters chambers they're gathered for the feast / They stab it with their steely knifes but they just can't kill the beast
Being shown luxurious accommodations, but realizing that everyone is trapped in their own way, even the powerful elites


Last thing i remember, i was runnin' for the door / I had to find the passage back to the place i was before / good night said the night man we are programmed to receive / You can check out anyytime you like, but you can never leave
Trying to escape from the Hotel California and be free, only to find out that it's impossible to leave




Writer(s): Glenn Lewis Frey, Don Felder, Donald Hugh Henley

Contributed by Taylor J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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