Eagles - Hotel California 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
Then 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 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 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"

• Batzaya Zaya

  great song

• Deepak Kumar

  its awesm

• Anonymous

  This song has several meanings.Colitas can be interpreted as marijuana, but it is also a desrt plant. The reference to not being able to kill the beast also points to drug addiction.Also, "You can check in any time you want, but you can never leave", could be referencing to drug addiction.
  
  The mental hospital view could be also correct. After all, one person in the Hotel California was, "Tiffany Twisted", and had the "Mercedes Bends", which are references to mental illnesses. The voices in the hallway also explain this.
  
  But still, it is a great song!

• Anonymous

  Eriogonum jamesii is a species of wild buckwheat known by the common name James' buckwheat and Antelope sage. It is native to southwestern North America, in: Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Nebraska.
  [edit]In popular culture
  
  It may also be called a Colita, such as in one of The Eagles' most famous songs, "Hotel California", in the opening lines, depicted as an aroma while travelling a highway heading into California.
  Alternatively, syndicated columnist Cecil Adams reports a different story:
  This E-mail just in from Eagles management honcho Irving Azoff: "In response to your [recent] memo, in 1976, during the writing of the song 'Hotel California' by Messrs, Henley, and Frey, the word `colitas' was translated for them by their Mexican-American road manager as 'little buds.' You have obviously already done the necessary extrapolation.
  
  The song itself is about heroin addiction!

• Anonymous

  i believe this song is talking about the hippy life in california, the eagles wrote this song before they became famous. the drums in the beginning play all over the streets of california. listen to the song, and have in the back of your head the hippie way of life. you will learn from this song. and its true the last paragraph, and scary to think bout. i hated this song, until i came back off of california. california is not apart of the united states. way different culture.

• Anonymous

  Who really gives a crap what the song means. It has a good beat, easy listening and is one of the all time favorites by music listeners across America. Let it rest and enjoy the song.................

• Anonymous

  This song is about California Rehabilitation Center in Norco Ca. Its a State Prison. It use to be a beautiful Hotel where famous people stood. When the depression hit it closed. California department of corrections bought it years later and now house female and male inmates. great song.

• Anonymous

  how about it has multiple meanings? different verses have different meanings, but the point of the song is someone from another place getting caught up in the fast lifestyle and glamor that California was famous for in the 60's and 70's. Then after living the life no matter where they may go they are still Californians.

• Anonymous

  It's about HEROIN addiction, DUH. You can "check out" (die) anytime you like but you can never leave(break the habit). & in the master's (drug dealers) chambers they gather for the feast, they stab it with their steely knives (needles) but they just can't kill the beast (always chasing that amazing first high that they felt but can never achieve again)

• Anonymous

  This song is about the Betty Ford clinic in CA. Drug rehab. No wine since 1969 etc, here by our own device etc etc...

• Anonymous

  *$%%@! what every one says this is one of the best songs of all time so yea....what about stairway to heaven..gonan say the smae thing too?

• Anonymous

  dis is an osomn!!!! song.... dis comments is given by MR. Varun Kafley..................................................i really appreciate Bryan for this song...

• Anonymous

  the hotel california is the first satanic church in california please read up before u post such nonsense. the colitas is a flower n the desert

• Anonymous

  ok everyone does know that this song (from what I was told) was written while the song writer was in a mental hospital.He checked himself in, and while there he was talking about being mental. The mental hospital was located in Camarillo,Ca. which is now a university. Read back on the words, "you can check in but you cant check out" One can always check in a mental place but you may only be get out (in those times) by the doc.'s. The voices he hears but does not see the people who also are committed.

• Anonymous

  don henley supposedly had written the song because of a dream he had.oh and i think the song when they talk about colitas they are talking about a desert plant

• Anonymous

  colitas is a type of pot..http://www.urbandictionary.com/define...

• Anonymous

  Does anyone know what "colitas" means? I cannot find it in any dictionary...English or Spanish.

• Anonymous

  I think its about drug addiction too.

• Anonymous

  The song is about being in Hollywood.

• Anonymous

  I love this song...but I want to know what it all means..
  "Stabbed it with their steely knives but they just can't kill the
  beast"...etc etc Is it talking about the California lifestyle ?
  There's plenty of room there ? There used to be..!
  How about the wine and 1969 ? Is it about a cult.. ?
  How can I get in touch with Don Henley ?

• Anonymous

  I think this song is about a drug addiction...you can check out anytime you want but you will always be an addict. I have been clean for seven years and it can still be tough sometimes.

• Anonymous

  great song!