About The Song
“Hotel California” is one of the most iconic songs by the American rock band Eagles. It was released in 1977 as the title track of their album “Hotel California.” The song was written by Don Felder, Don Henley, and Glenn Frey, who were members of the Eagles at the time.
Furthermore, Don Henley and Glenn Frey pooled resources for the words and lyrics of “Hotel California.” Meanwhile, Don Felder arranged the music and technicality of the song. The song became the most famous one of the band to record in the entire course of their career.
“Hotel California” won a Grammy as “Record of the Year” in 1978. Due to its strong lyrics, it has given many interpretations. The Eagles, themselves, describes the song as a high life in Los Angeles. Also, Henley, the writer, interpreted the lyrics as the journey of innocence to experience.
Video
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 thinkin’ 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-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 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”