Hotel California
The Eagles/Eric Clapton Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴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 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 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

Hotel California by The Eagles is a song that tells a story about a man driving along a dark desert highway when he sees a shimmering light in the distance, leading him to the titular Hotel California. The lyrics portray the man’s experience at the hotel and his growing sense of unease as he becomes trapped there. The first verse sets the scene with vivid imagery, describing the dark night and the smell of colitas in the air. The second verse introduces the mysterious woman who welcomes the singer into the hotel and the haunting voices he hears in the corridors.

The chorus, “Welcome to the Hotel California,” repeats throughout the song, and serves to both welcome the singer and trap him in the hotel. The bridge of the song further reveals the sinister nature of the hotel, with lyrics about the luxurious but empty lives of the guests, the voices that never stop calling, and the feeling of being trapped in one’s own mind. The final verse describes the singer attempting to escape the hotel, but ultimately realizing that he can never leave.

Line by Line Meaning

On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
Traveling on a deserted road, feeling the breeze on my face

Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air
Sensing the intoxicating aromas of various drugs in the air

Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light
Spotting a bright light that seemed to be a hotel in the distance

My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
Feeling drowsy and disoriented, possibly due to drugs

I had to stop for the night
Stopping at the hotel for the night

There she stood in the doorway
Encountering a mysterious woman in the hotel's entrance

I heard the mission bell
Hearing the sound of a church bell, possibly signifying judgement day

'This could be heaven or this could be Hell
Feeling uncertain about the situation, unsure whether it is good or bad

Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way
The woman guiding the artist through the darkness, possibly symbolizing temptation or deceit

There were voices down the corridor
Hearing unsettling sounds coming from a nearby hallway

Welcome to the Hotel California
Receiving a sinister greeting upon arrival at the hotel

Such a lovely place (such a lovely place)
The hotel may seem attractive and enticing at first glance

Such a lovely face
The people at the hotel may appear charming and welcoming

Plenty of room at the Hotel California
The hotel seems to be able to accommodate many guests

Any time of year (any time of year) you can find it here
The hotel is always open for guests, regardless of the season

Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes bends
The woman has a twisted mindset and a luxurious lifestyle

She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys, that she calls friends
The woman surrounds herself with attractive men who are at her disposal

How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat
Watching people engage in sensual activities, possibly with drug use

Some dance to remember, some dance to forget
People dance either to remember good times or to distract themselves from bad ones

So I called up the Captain
Trying to seek guidance or assistance from a respected figure

'Please bring me my wine
Requesting a substance that gives the artist comfort and escape

He said, 'we haven't had that spirit here since nineteen sixty-nine
The hotel seems to have a history of being devoid of the specific substance being requested

And still those voices are calling from far away
Hearing enticing voices calling from a distance that seem to draw the singer back in

Wake you up in the middle of the night
Being haunted or disturbed by these voices during sleep

Just to hear them say
The singer is lured by and desires to hear the voices again

Mirrors on the ceiling
The hotel is adorned with items that may distort reality or create illusions

The pink champagne on ice
Being offered pleasing or luxurious items that may seem desirable but conceal something sinister

And she said, 'we are all just prisoners here, of our own device
The woman reveals that the artist and the other guests have put themselves in a position of captivity without realizing it

And in the master's chambers
Entering a secretive and possibly dangerous area of the hotel

They gathered for the feast
The people in the room are engaging in a ritual that may involve consuming something

They stab it with their steely knives
The singer is horrified to witness something violent or disturbing

But they just can't kill the beast
Despite efforts to harm, destroy or escape from something, it continues to persist

Last thing I remember, I was running for the door
Trying to flee from the hotel or a dangerous situation

I had to find the passage back to the place I was before
Searching for a way to return to a previous, safer state of being

'Relax' said the night man
Being offered a false sense of calm or safety from someone who may be untrustworthy

'We are programmed to receive
The hotel or the people inside it may have ulterior motives or agendas

You can check out any time you like
Being allowed to leave the hotel, but with the knowledge that you may want to return

But you can never leave!
Implying that once you enter the hotel, you become trapped within it and can never truly escape

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DON FELDER, DON HENLEY, GLENN FREY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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