Youtube Lyrics, 21 Jan 2016: Hotel California

  • Larry Chamberlin
    8 years ago

    Hotel California
    recorded by The Eagles
    written by Glenn Frey, Don Henley & Don Felder (music)

    A nod to the former leader of the Eagles, Glenn Frey ((1948 - 2016).
    This song, more than any other by The Eagles, is widely, and wildly interpreted. (Look up colitas in the Urban Dictionary, then take note that a contributing factor in his death was "ulcerative colitis.") The images and iconic references are laden with depth; one can envision the protagonist as a young rocker getting caught up in the "star-making machine," as Joni Mitchell called it, then after becoming more embroiled and twisted he finds he cannot escape the Hollywood scene, not even when he "checks out." Elvis, Hendrix, Morrison & Joplin are proof that the machinery simply will not let you go. Frey envisioned the story line and he and Henley wrote the lyrics to Felder's demo tape. As to the "correct" interpretation, don't expect one. Glenn Frey said of HC: "I think we achieved perfect ambiguity." The song is perennially matched against "Stairway to Heaven" as to which has the best guitar coda (both played live with double-neck 12-strings by Felder & Page).

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrfhf1Gv4Tw

    Hotel California

    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 Benz
    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! "

  • Bob Shank
    8 years ago

    On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair

    This lyric always runs through my mind when I'm riding my motorcycle long distance, that and a horse with no name....strange.....lol,

  • Poet on the Piano
    8 years ago

    ^ Nice!

    Classic song.