A	B	C	D	E	F	G
H	I	J	K	L	M	N
O	P	Q	R	S	T	U
V	W	X	Y	Z	#

Browse Categories Random Songfact Random Category Add to Songfacts Take the Quiz SongFAQ Get the Newsletter E-Mail Us Message Boards Songwriter Interviews Song Writing Songfactor's Choice Lyrical Pursuit Song Fallacies

Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

This is about materialism and excess. California is used as the setting, but it could relate to anywhere in America. Don Henley in the London Daily Mail November 9, 2007 said: "Some of the wilder interpretations of that song have been amazing. It was really about the excesses of American culture and certain girls we knew. But it was also about the uneasy balance between art and commerce."

On November 25, 2007 Henley appeared on the TV news show 60 Minutes, where he was told, "everyone wants to know what this song means." Henley replied: "I know, it's so boring. It's a song about the dark underbelly of the American Dream, and about excess in America which was something we knew about." (thanks, Emma - Westfield, ME)

Don Henley: "We were all middle-class kids from the Midwest. Hotel California was our interpretation of the high life in Los Angeles.

This won the 1977 Grammy for Record Of The Year. The band did not show up to accept the award, as Don Henley did not believe in contests.

Don Felder got the ball rolling on this. He had the chord progressions and took it to Don Henley and Glenn Frey. They put the words down, then Joe Walsh wrote all the guitar parts and arranged them for everyone. (thanks, Les - Dannevirke, New Zealand)

"Colitas," in the line "Warm smell of colitas," is often interpreted as a flower or a sexual reference. It is a Spanish word translated to Henley by the Eagles Mexican-American road manager meaning "Little Buds," and is a reference to marijuana.

This was recorded at 3 different sessions before the Eagles got the version they wanted. The biggest problem was finding the right key for Henley's vocal.

Glenn Frey compares this to an episode of The Twilight Zone, where it jumps from one scene to the next and doesn't necessarily make sense.

The line "They stab it with their steely knives but they just can't kill the beast" is a reference to Steely Dan. The bands shared the same manager and had a friendly rivalry. The year before, Steely Dan included the line "Turn up the Eagles, the neighbors are listening" on their song "Everything You Did."

Don Felder and Joe Walsh played together on the guitar solos, creating the textured sound.

The lyrics for the song came with the album. Some people thought the line "She's got the Mercedes Bends" was a misspelling of "Mercedes Benz," and wrote Henley to complain. The line was a play on words.

Glenn Frey: "That record explores the under belly of success, the darker side of Paradise. Which was sort of what we were experiencing in Los Angeles at that time. So that just sort of became a metaphor for the whole world and for everything you know. And we just decided to make it Hotel California. So with a microcosm of everything else going on around us." (thanks, Moomin - London, England)

When the Eagles got back together in 1994, they recorded a live version of this for an MTV special that was included on their album Hell Freezes Over. The album was #1 in the US its first week.

All 7 past and present members of the Eagles performed this in 1998 when they were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

The hotel on the album cover is the Beverly Hills Hotel, known as the Pink Palace. It is often frequented by Hollywood stars. The photo was taken by photographers David Alexander and John Kosh, who sat in a cherry-picker about 60 feet above Sunset Boulevard to get the shot of the hotel at sunset from above the trees. The rush-hour traffic made it a harrowing experience. Check out the hotel.

Although it is well known that Hotel California is actually a metaphor, there are several strange Internet theories and urban legends about the "real" Hotel California. Some include suggestions that it was an old church taken over by devil worshippers, a psychiatric hospital, an inn run by cannibals or Aleister Crowley's mansion in Scotland. It's even been suggested that the "Hotel California" is the Playboy Mansion. (thanks, Adam - Dewsbury, England)

The music may have been inspired by the 1969 Jethro Tull song "We Used to Know," from their album Stand up. The chord progressions are nearly identical, and the bands toured together before the Eagles recorded "Hotel California." In a BBC radio interview, Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson said laughingly that he was still waiting for the royalties. In Ian Anderson's interview with Songfacts, he makes it clear that he doesn't consider "Hotel California" to be borrowing anything from his song: "It's difficult to find a chord sequence that hasn't been used, and hasn't been the focus of lots of pieces of music. It's harmonic progression is almost a mathematical certainty you're gonna crop up with the same thing sooner or later if you sit strumming a few chords on a guitar. There's certainly no bitterness or any sense of plagiarism attached to my view on it, although I do sometimes allude, in a joking way, to accepting it as a kind of tribute."

In Chicago at the time of this song's popularity many people called Cook County jail "Hotel California" because it is on California street. The name stuck and now people of all ages and races refer to the jail by this nickname. (thanks, jesse - chicago, IL)

Don Felder: "I had just leased this house out on the beach at Malibu, I guess it was around '74 or '75. I remember sitting in the living room, with all the doors wide open on a spectacular July day. I had this acoustic 12-string and I started tinkling around with it, and those Hotel California chords just kind of oozed out. Every once in a while it seems like the cosmos part and something great just plops in your lap." (thanks, Stone - Libertyville, IL)

An alternative interpretation of the meaning of the lyrics is that the song is a description of the journey from Need to Love and Marriage to Divorce and ultimately to the impossibility of regaining the life and happiness of the pre-divorce state.
Initially the traveler is feeling the need of a relationship ("My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim, I had to stop for the night"). The traveler meets his love and gets married ("There she stood in the doorway. I heard the mission bell"). A marriage commitment opens up the possibility of happiness but also the traveler is aware and vulnerable to the possibility of intense unhappiness ("And I was thinking to myself, this could be heaven or this could be hell")
Unfortunately the marriage dissolves and his love becomes obsessed with money ("Her mind is Tiffany-twisted") where Tiffany" refers to the very expensive jewelry store, Tiffany & Co. With the divorce there is the division of property - she got the Mercedes Benz. After the breakup when he sees her with any guys she reassures him that the pretty, pretty boys" are just friends." In this new world of being single the other singles he meets do their dance in the courtyard" of life. They generally fall into two groups: There are those who can't stop talking about their Ex ("Some dance to remember") and there are those who don't what to say anything at all about their past marriage ("some dance to forget").
Now in this world of being divorced he longs to return the pre-divorced state of happiness ("So I called up the captain, please bring me my wine"), but he finds that his happiness is now irrevocably in the past ("We haven't had that spirit here since 1969").
Deep into the post-divorce single's scene with "mirrors on the ceiling, the pink champagne on ice" he is reminded that "we are all just prisoners here, of our own device." He and others want this divorce nightmare to be over, yet - "they stab it with their steely knives, but they just can't kill the beast." Now frustrated, he panics and is "running for the door. I had to find the passage back to the place I was before" But he is brought up short when the night man informs him that "You can checkout any time you like (commit suicide), but you can never leave" (become pre-divorced).
There are two choruses in the song and each mention the "Hotel California." Around the time the song was written, California was experiencing the highest divorce rate in the nation. Each chorus has lines that remember his past marriage ("Such a lovely place") and his past lover ("Such a lovely face"). The first chorus indicates that there can always be more divorces ("Plenty of room at the Hotel California, any time of year, you can find it here"). The second chorus points out that as a part of divorce you will always "bring your alibis." (thanks, David - Redwood City, CA)

The Hotel California album is #37 on the Rolling Stone list of the 500 Greatest Albums of all time. According to the magazine, Don Henley said that the band was in pursuit of a note perfect song. The Eagles spent 8 months in the studio polishing take after take after take. Henley also said, "We just locked ourselves in. We had a refrigerator, a ping pong table, roller skates and a couple cots. We would go in and stay for 2 or 3 days at a time." (thanks, Ray - Stockton, NJ)

According to a reader-submitted poll for Guitar World magazine, the guitar solo for this song is ranked #8 out of 100. (thanks, Romeo - Belo Horizonte, Brazil)

Comments:

Original songwriter: Michael Holland Shepard
- michael, Kensington 94707, CA

I remember when I was a kid the preacher at Church said Hotel California was a metaphor for hell because of the words: you can checkout any time you like but can never leave (hell being for eternity) & we haven't had that spirit here since 1969 (the year LaVey published the Satanic Bible) & you just can't kill the beast (ie Satan). Just how "Her mind is tiffany-twisted, she got the mercedes bends" fits into hell though, I'm not quite sure...
- Daniel, Melbourne, Australia

The double neck fender guitar that was used on the tour of 77 year, it's on Hard Rock Cafe in Universal City in Los Angeles,CA.
- Hector, Cd. Victoria, Mexico

I think that everybody could have a different interpretation of this song, while mine stands to be, him entering the drugs addictiveness, once he went into the hotel. Emphasizing that by saying you can never leave it, then saying you cant kill the addiction in the line, "We stabbed it with our steely knives, but we just cant kill the beast." Beast being the symbolism for drug addiction. Also at the beggining, light-headedness and dizziness are common side effects of many addictive drugs.
- justin, Lousville, KY

I believe this song was written about the Charles Manson-Sharon Tate murders. There are alot of similarities in the song and the murders. Sharon Tate was murdered in 1969. Manson and his followers were living in death valley at Barker ranch. Read about the murders and then read through the lyrics. There seems to be a similarities in the two.
- Dave, Lake Charles, LA

I agree with those who think that the song is about the world of death.I think that "Hotel california"is a cemetary in witch everyone has a small grave(plenty of rooms at the hotel california),and it functions everyday without pause. The day is our life and the night is death.The biginning of the song is the moment between life and death.After that the speaker is comfessing his sins. At the end he realized that he cannot go back to life,he can think of what is coming after death but he can never leave(you can checkout any time you like, but you can never leave). Excuse me if I commited mistakes because I am not a native speaker.
- said, novara, Italy

Come on, this is an easy one. Hotel California = HC = High Cocaine. Just a trip and a warning - "You may check out, but you can't ever leave".
- Margareth, Natal, Brazil

Man,this is the best song ever,don't you all agree with me.THIS SONG ROCKS
- Cameron, Irmo, SC

Most people have no idea the song refers to the Church of Satan, which happens to be located in a converted HOTEL on California Street in San Francisco near 24th Avenue. I, too, was a sceptic. On the inside of the album cover, looking down on the festivities, is Anton LaVey (pictured to left), the founder of the Church of Satan and author of the Satanic Bible! People say, the Eagles aren't serious, they're just selling records. That's what you think! The Eagles manager, Larry Salter, admitted in the Waco Tribune-Herald, (Feb. 28, 1982) that the Eagles were involved with the Church of Satan! Not surprisingly, one of the Eagle's songs is titled "Have A Good Day in Hell."
- Don, San Francisco, CA

I prefer the version with the latin arrangement. I think it was only recorded live at a concert, not a studio recording. The meaning of the music seems different every time I hear it.
- Mr Hill, Glendale, AZ

HOW I KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS? LMAO CUZZ MY MOM WAS LOCKED UP IN THIS BEAUTIFUL PLACE...IT WAS A REAL PLACE...A HOTEL...A HOSPITAL..AND A WOMENS PRISON...The building now housing California Rehabilitation Center opened in 1928 as the Lake Norconian Club, a luxury hotel. In December 1941, President F. D. Roosevelt turned the resort into a Naval hospital. The hospital first closed in November 1949, reopened in 1950 during the Korean War, then closed again in June 1957. In March 1962, the federal government donated the facility to the state to use as a narcotics center. To help ease overcrowding in the 1980s, CRC began housing felons as well as civil narcotic addicts.
- MONDEAU, CHULA VISTA, CA

The lyrics are soooo creepy I love it
- JD, Fairfield, OH

they stab it with their steely knives but they just can't kill the beast...sounds like a reference to some kind of drug
- mark, san francisco, CA

Man, I thought the version I was told was far fetched. I heard that it was about a beautiful black lady that was in love and with a very attractive body (emphasis on her ASSets). There was trouble in paradise and now is going through a divorce so she started stripping and got swallowed by the world erotic dancing eventually bending over and taking it from guys that drove an expensive car (Mercedes Benz) tricking to make enough money for her lawyers and the lifestyle she couldn't escape. She became addicted to heroin got Herpes which she gave to some guy that ended up stabbing her to death. But it was too late he was infected because he had some 69 with her 19 times. I might of gotten some of those details a bit mixed up.
- Mr. Know-It-All, Washington, DC

I wonder what the song was really about, though it does sound more like the wrong path taken that led to Hell. Sucks to be her.
- Mr. Know-It-All, Washington, DC

Mike from NJ, dude get real. This song is about the excesses of the lifestyle that the Eagles were into at the time. You have a wicked imagination,dude..
- Jim, Long Beach, CA

You're ALL wrong. This song is NOT about drugs, sin, Satan, Mr. Ed, Jimmy Carters predilection towards unnatural sexual practices OR Parcheesi. This is about Government Sponsored Health Care. Hey!!! You're right!!! Whoever said you can interpret this song in a myriad of ways was correct. "You can check out any time you like, but you can't never leave!!!" Clearly, once the Government gets ahold of Healthcare, we'll NEVER be able to go back to a system (albeit flawed) that sorta worked, to a system that really won't work for ANYONE...unless of course, you're high up in the government or connected to those dopes. The Eagles were more than 30 years ahead of their time.
- Mike, Matawan, NJ

It is a twilight zone episode in which a young man finds himself in a paradisical hotel filled with all sinful goodies but discovers that for some reason he can never leave.
- rod, Gainesville, FL

This song is about the excess of the 70's LA rock N Roll lifestyle. Ritchie Fernandez, the Mexican/American road manager of the Eagles at the time use to call pot "colitas" which is the Spanish word for it. The gatefold picture of the LP is the lobby of the Beverly Hills Hotel. One of the best songs from one of the best albums of all-time. TIMELESS.
- Jim, Long Beach, CA

The song is clearly bout heroin, she lites up the candle, and shows him the way, either the way to cook or to shoot, iff you ever did heroin you would know its lovely and more or less there are voices calling heh, shes got a mercedes benz and expensive stuff as most dealers do, bring me my wine id think thay didnt expect any drinking "spirit". On heroin you swet alot, and iff you like it you could call it sweet sweat, some dance to remember some dance to forget I think thats pretty on target, as a cowards portal most heroin users have thayr own alabies, and oh the steely knives are clearly needles, never heard of a stealy knife maybe steel, you can never kill the beast, heroin is truly a beast and a pretty hungry one at that, he runs to escape but learns he can only "check out" as in die, but never leave, heroin addicts will forever miss the one and only feeling that is heroin provided, and 96%( I think the statistics say) are on it for life, so think twicek.. Sry for the interpunctions but im in a hurry, and I couldnt listen to theese explanations bout government conspiracy, its about heroin, big deal most of them are, and most artists are users, deal with it :)
- Ivan, zagreb, Croatia

its about heroine, never heard about a "steely knife" only steel, a needle is steely tho, the girl is a dealer who lites up a candle and shows him the way, either to cook or shoot, shes got alot of nice stuff as most dealers do, and you can "check out" you can die, but you cant leave, I think 96 percent is the statistic on heroin addicts that never leave heroin because of the one and only feeling only provided by H, its bout drugs, most songs are, deal with it. Think twice
- Ivan, zagreb, Croatia

my husband david a guitarist played hotel california on his guitar before his death last year for me, always will this and tequila sunsrise will forever be our songs by the eagles courtney san antonio tx
- courtney, san antonio tx, TX

this is a complex song that can be interpreted differnetly. i think it really could be about drugaddiction as the lyrics "you can check out anytime you like but you can never leave" and "prisoners here of our own device" and "some dance to remember, some dance to forget" which would make sense for heroin as some people use it to escape their past and others use it to escape tehir present, however you do become trapped by addiction and become a prisioner to the drug and you have done it to yourself. and its like check out but never leave so it could either be that you can get clean but you will always be an 'addict' or you can shoot up and check out of your reality but you cant leave the scene. 'Hotel California' could have been like a drug house in California? im not sure but it would make sense, i also read another definition on here that it was about divorce which could also make sense? open to interpretation i suppose. but the era the song was written may also have something to do with it - it was the 70's and drugs and partying and fame fourtune all big factors of that time? either way a very good piece of music - a little eery though at times...
- Ny, Canberra, Australia

I always thought the song was about a guy trying to escape from some bad home situation and being turned into a vampire. LOL I guess it just depends on the person.
- Ashley, PHX, AZ

I don't really believe this song is about drugs or satan. I believe it's just what the lyrics are about. About a man who stops for the night and stays at a hotel which I guess is something like a haunted house in a way because he hears voices, and then he realizes he is trapped in this otherworld and can't get out basically, because he's become a part of their world, and they don't want to let him go. I do think there are some drug connotations in the song, but I don't analyze the lyrics too much, because I don't like to read too much into things. Besides, I think some things are better left unsaid, just like the hall and oates song of the same name.
- jared, Salt Lake City, UT

The song is about a group of guys who go to Gay bathhouse. Lyrics suggest it: She's got lots of pretty pretty boys she calls friends..Gays are often thought of as friends by girls. How they dance in the court yard, sweet summer sweat...Many gays danced at tea party's in the 80's. Relax said the night man we are programmed to receive, many gays crave as as in a sexual act to recieve rather the give. How they gathered for the feast..usually in gay bathhouse there was AN ORGY ROOM.
- mark, wilmington, IL

Chris in buckeye land, they close with desparodo on the long road out of eden tour saw it in January
- Chase, Miami, FL

It gives you "in the small hours" vibe that was hovering around the L.A. Canyons at that time.....nice and mellow - If it wasn't for Crosby, Stills and nash.........
- Darren, Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom

FOR EVERYONE AND EVERY SONG ON THIS SITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just so you know, a song can mean ANYTHING YOU WANT IT TO!!! Who gives a damn what the writer says? It's like the picture with two faces kissing or a vase. If you WANT it to be about drugs, it's about drugs. If you WANT it to be about sex, it's about sex. Hell, it can even be about FACEBOOK!!! So in the end, when you get right down to it, the song is whatever the listener wants it to be.
- Alan, ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!, TX

On a dark desert highway Cool wind in my hair The warm smell of colitas Rising up through the air(driving felling bomb smokin a little bud) 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(first time trying heroin he desides to keep doing it for a little bitt) 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(girl showd him on to it,he wasnt sure if he should or not) 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(she loves material items,shes got some other guys hooked,how they trip in the court yard.Some use it to remember the past, others use it to forget the past...) So I called up the captain(The dealer) Please bring me my wine(hes asking for some bud.) He said "We haven't had that spirit here since 1969"(nobodey is doing that any more) And still those voices they're calling from far away Wake you up in the middle of the night Just to hear them say(Shakes,cant live with out it) 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"(self explanatory...) 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(they shoot up but the addiction is makeing them want more and more..) Last thing I remember, I was runnin' for the door I had to find the passage back to the place I was before(He comes to his scenes) "Relax " said the night man "We are programmed to receive You can check out anyytime you like, but you can never leave" Thats f--ked up...) austin dotson READ!
- Austin, Bakersfield, CA

Whoever K is I live in the same city as you. And about that question before lyric thing- thats how lyric writing should be you make a idea then ask questions and answer them in verse with a tune, get me?
- Chase, Miami, FL

wait russell you know Joe Walsh!!?? Thats awesome he is one of the greatest ever!
- Chase, Miami, FL

I love this song. It is one of the greatest songs ever written!!!
- Ia, San Francisco, California, PA

Joe Walsh DID play on the Hotel California album contrary to what someone else said here. In addition to song writting credits (he wrote that cool riff that opens Life in the Fast Lane) he also plays guitar through-out - including on the song Hotel California where he trades riffs with Felder. I asked him and he confirmed it.
- Russell, Corona, CA

It's about the Americain Dream. The main char is the immigrants from all over the world, to the Industrial empire United States. They established the industry for freedom, for independent from the others of Western World, but that industry just come back and arrest them. Because of that, the newcomers can "checkout" (repay for the US by their working) but "can't leave" (their benefits are decided by the industry). So they "just prisonners here of our own device". The masters are capitalists, and the beast is US government. The capitalists try to kill and manipulate the US government "stab it with their steely knives but they just can't kill the beast".
- Arist, Dalat, Viet Nam

This song reminds me of some story where a man sees ghosts, like some horror movie. Especially the line about never leaving.
- JD, Fairfield, OH

lol...exactly mate...both hotel california n stairway to heaven creep me out.... perhaps the best known rock songs in history..... there's an eerie feel on this one..... n maybe its cause of all the controversies regarding the satanism....hmmm....anyway both of m are amazing...i jus can't complain....
- rahul, chennai, India

Honestly, this song just creeps me out. I don't know if this makes sense, but it has a sort of deserty feel to it, and I hate the heat.
- Emily, Around Chicago, IL

i belive it is just about dieing ( i saw shimmring light ) and this boy was the passage of the girl that she had 2 take 4 the room and at the end of the song they say (i had 2 find the passege 2 the room i was befor )these time it was the passase2 the boy ( we are programmed 2 recieve )and the man told him 2 relax and dont worry thier work is 2 resive people and dead spirits so he will he worry and these voises are just spirits in there but i cant explain the last part ecxept they cant get back and leave (they live at the hotel california ) but i still cant under stand the pert of the beast !!
- Gehenna, Cairo, Egypt

Don Felder did all the guitar solos on this song. it was after hotel california(entire album) that joe walsh played lead guitar for the eagles
- Billy, Jeromesville, OH

This song is about the California lifestyle and how you can get sucked into it. The '70's were an interesting time in California. The protests and acid of the '60's were pretty much gone, the coke and narcissism of the '80's hadn't started yet. But the music business, and California itself, can be very hard to get away from. The weather, the beaches, the people (who are there for so very many different reasons), and the way of doing business. Even the food. I didn't realize until after I moved out of the state, that for 30 years I never ate any bread but sourdough! It's much harder to find elsewhere, especially on the east coast. California is just different and it's really easy to get sucked into the underbelly.
- Terri, Long Beach, WA

is it true that the picture of anton levey can be seen on the album cover of Hotel California?
- Raymond, springdale, AR

It's about a trip to the afterlife... You can always die, but you'll never go back. Listen to the lyrics carefully and you'll see what I mean. Still a great song though.
- Peter, Los Angeles, CA

Just wondering: In the "Rough Guide" book on Pink Floyd, the writer makes the claim that the opening acoustic guitar progression was influenced by PF's "Wish You Were Here." Anyone have any more details on that? Personally, I wouldn't have thought so...
- Jude, Baltimore, MD

This song should be inside me
- Jason, Glen Rock, NJ

i think this songs about drugs cause he says This could be heaven this could be hell--and also-You can check out but you can never leave
- bryan, Fayetteville, NC

i think this song is about drugs because it says "You can check out any time you like but you can never leave."
- Alex, Chicago, IL

More about Hotel California (too much to quote) is on http://www.snopes.com/music/songs/hotel.asp .
- Nico, Amstelveen, Netherlands

This is a wonderful song, and I am glad it has stood the test of time and is still being talked about even today.
- Adam, Shen, IA

This is a wonderful song, and I am glad it has stood the test of time and is still being talked about even today.
- Adam, Shen, IA

This song has been beautifully and naturally put together for all to enjoy. My thanks to the Eagles for sharing with me their artistic talents. Snow
- Snow, Sierra Foothills, CA

I thought that this song was about disco. That's just my opinion...
- Elsa, Los Angeles, CA

The one fact I do know is that this song was penned in 1977 (perhaps earlier but released in 77) and we are discussing it and debating it and dissecting it 32 years later. To me that is a testament to the power of this song.
- cindy, florida, FL

Two 80s r&b acts covered this song: Rene and Angela (of "I'll Be Good", "Your Smile" and "You Don't Have To Cry" fame) and sex symbol Al B Sure ("Nite and Day").
- John, Nashville, TN

All I have to say is the Church of Satan started in a Hotel in California in 1969. Look it up!
- keaton, Houston, TX

sounds a lot like a description of a rehab clinic. Small buds smelled, can't leave, can't kill the beast, etc.
- G., Newport News, VA

And it has that overall mornful futility and that "I wanna go home, mommy" attitude about it. Rehab alright!
- G., Newport News, VA

screw that this song is about a girl fighting drug addiction "but they just cant kill the beast" translate meaning "they just cant break their addiction" "you can check in any time you like but you can never leave" translate "once you try drugs you cant quit" come on it's common sense
- Kane, wytheville, VA

It's a very popular song even in China, you may be surprised that this song has a Chinese translation version.
- Chinese translator, Beijing, China

Hi. Suprisingly, I didn't see it mentioned here but I heard this song was about a drug program in California (Synanon) that turned into a cult. Supposedly, once you checked in you can never check out.
- Teresa, brooklyn, NY

Did anyone ever hear of the lyric questions that you can ask before each line in the song? Ex: Question: Where were you? Line: On a dark desert highway Q: Whatcha smell? L: Warm smell of colitas Q: Whatcha see? L: I saw a shimmering light Q: Whatcha do? L: I had to stop for the night Q: Where'd she stand? L: There she stood in the doorway Q: Whatcha hear? L: I heard the mission bells And you get the idea...it goes thru the entire song like this. I saw the whole thing printed out once about 20 years ago and haven't seen it since. Would love to find this...Thx, Teresa :-)
- Teresa, brooklyn, NY

Not much to say about Hotel California except it's one of the greatest songs ever written and of all time.
- K, Miami, FL

awesome song.... i first heard on holiday in Phuket. the eagles wrote the song about the excess of life in l.a. but wenever i hear it it takes me back to sitting in an outdoor resteraunt on patong beach listening to a live bannd do a exact remake of the song.
- ricky, melbourne, Australia

seeing the eagles in columbus on march 29th at the Schott, I'm hoping they close with this song
- chris, Columbus aka "Buckeye Nation", OH

Hotel California is simply one of the all time greatest if not the greatest song ever written both lyrically and musically arranged. As a guitarist myself I can appreciate the collective efforts put in by all the members of The Eagles. As for the lyrics, I can accept what Don Henley said that it's about the Dark under-belly of Fame and success..ie about materialistic women, broken marriages, painful-divorces, drug addictions and the way of life that we chose to inflict ourselves.. The only comment I would like to add is, I am very sad that Don Henley and Glen Frey decided to sack Don Felder after 30 years. "Hotel California" just wouldn't be the same without Joe Walsh and Don Felder (together) belting it out their riffs on their guitars, either the original or accoustic versions.
- Jet, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah., Malaysia

Many think this song is about a "place" where you can go but can never leave hint the last line. It's almost eerie,the way its sung like they were there and experienced it. I hope they play it in columbus on March 29th.. I'm going to the show
- chris, Columbus aka "Buckeye Nation", OH

no people...it's about a guy stuck in a hotel...that's pretty much it.
- Liz, Smallville, KS

It's obviously about pure evil - worshipping Satan and eating babies. Ooops, hang on, I just slipped in born-again bible-basher mode. [click] ... and back to normal now ... Having just read Don Felder's book "Heaven and Hell", I must agree with Frey's explanation that the song is about the dark under-belly of LA. So many people are quick to assume it's about heroin but like so many succesful bands of the time, they were into cocaine. BTW, I think the "Mercedes bends" refers to the light-headedness of the Hollywood lifestyle at the time ... as in the decompression sickness that divers get when resurfacing too quickly. It is also one of the most over-dubbed pieces of studio production at the time, with folklore suggesting 8 or more guitar tracks. PS I think it's a masterpiece!
- scared_of_girls, Melbourne, Australia

It's about a guy who gets stuck in a hotel and can't get out. and the building on the cover is the Beverly Hills Hotel. Wow it's gorgeous. I love Don Henley's voice by the way
- Liz, Smallville, KS

I used to be scared of this song...i know weirdo ha
- nady, adelaide, Australia

The song is heard every nook and corner of this globe.
- Visnu, Bangalore, India

Come on people...Camarillo state mental hospital? The picture on the album cover is the Beverly Hills Hotel. Look it up on the web. It takes two seconds.
- John, Washington, DC

I love this song because it's really not about anything. They probably felt like being random. It's basically a movie about some random guy.
- Liz, Smallville, KS

I think he is alive because he feel in this part of song: "cool wind in my hair/Warm smell of colitas". just it :p.....so I'm a brazilian and don't speak english very well......this is just a class work ...... Be HAPPY!
- Hikari, Gyn, Brazil

well, the song is really great. i think that he's dead, because in the song, he says: 'last thing i remember, i was running for the door..' so, after that, he dies in the hotel california, and he becames a spirit. the song talk about a lot of thinks like: girls for example. you really have to listen this song, is the best of ever!
- Bárbara, Goiânia, Brazil

I think he is alive because he feel in this part of song: "cool wind in my hair/Warm smell of colitas". just it :p.....so I'm a brazilian and don't speak english very well......this is just a class work ...... Be HAPPY!
- Hikari, Gyn, Brazil

the character of the music seems to have smoked his last and was based delirious, having hallucinations showing a dead end! ... then I think at times very important that I spent in my life that will not come back ... the more that the lyrics to say is that the same drugs is a dead end!
- Luna Aister Campos, Goiânia, Brazil

I just found out what the meaning of this song is from the writer himself telling it. Before that I belived this song was about an acid trip, this of course made up myself. the reason I say this is because every time before we would start to trip we would smoke hints "colitas rising up in the air". then hotel california was the trip itself. but for me not only was it about a trip but a bad trip at that hinting the lyric "you can checkout anytime you like, but you can lever leave". Im not going through the whole song but for anyone that knows what Im talkin about just sit back listen to the song and imagine the trip you'll see what im talkin about
- chase, chatt town, TN

Man, some people just want to see Satan everywhere! Really, leave him be! Dude, why is this site's logo a fish?
- Sibella, Pretoria, South Africa

First off Ashley that is supposed to be stairway to heaven backwards not hotel california dumbass. If you play the song backwards when he says and they wake you up in the middle night just to hear them say. You are supposed to hear satan had me believe in him. But i think thats total bull. Great song with an amazing guitar solo
- Jeffery, Myrtle Beach, SC

Well, I've always been convinced this song is about being sentenced to Camarillo State mental hospital. The album cover photo was taken there. Back in the 80's I took the album there and put it up to the site where it was taken and it was indeed not just similar, but actually THE place. Listen to the lyrics and you will see it's about being institutionalized in a mental hospital. No doubt about it.
- daniel kinberg, Newbury Park, CA

Why are all of you arguing about what this song mean? Please refer to this posted statement from Henley himself, "On November 25, 2007 Henley appeared on the TV news show 60 Minutes, where he was told, "everyone wants to know what this song means." Henley replied: 'I know, it's so boring. It's a song about the dark underbelly of the American Dream, and about excess in America which was something we knew about.'" Granted, this song is so ambiguous that it fits just about any definition you choose. But remember: that is what YOU say it means. That doesn't mean you're right, it's just how you interpret it. Quit telling everybody and their mother how right you are and how wrong they are, when all you're offering is your opinion. Your opinion's are fascinating, don't get me wrong, but don't go around insulting everybody just because they had a different idea than you did. The song "means" what Henley said it "means". Sorry, but that's as deep as they made it. Go ahead and add your own versions, but remember that you are the one that came up with it. Not Henley or any other member of the Eagles for that matter. Capiche?
- Mary, Oakridge, OR

I don't really care about the lyrics and what they mean. The music and guitar playing and the whole arrangement is just wonderful. The acoustic arrangement is one of the best songs ever recorded. To hear a hard rocker like Joe walsh and the rest of those great musicians playing it, makes it worth listening to everyday, and I do. I've never gotten tired of it and I listen to the passages over and over. What a fabulous song
- Don Piccolo, denver, CO

For me the best song ever written. The song tells about drug addiction, "you can check out anytime you like but you can never leave".
- cars, cebu, Philippines

I wrote an article about the myth that the song referred to the hotel in Todos Santos, Baja. It was printed in several publications, here's one link, along with a scan of a fax I received from Don Henley. http://www.todossantos-baja.com/todos-santos/eagles/hotel-where.htm
- Joe, Bangkok, Thailand

I lived in scottsbluff,ne. for 5yrs.when i was married.Remember scottsbluff is where randy meisner is from. his son [dana] lived outside of scottsbluff,and i used to hang out with him quite a bit. The line "her mind is tiffany twisted" is refering to randy's [dana's mom]ex-wife. Randy had a 5 story strip shopping cener of sorts built in scottsbluff[its called "randall square"]guess who got it in the divorce.At least she left the name as "randall square"
- tim, houston, TX

I'm not sure what the song is about actually. There are so many theories and all so I will just say it ranks up there with some of the greatest songs in the world.
- Joel, Columbia, MD

This song is about a group of musicians who got together and wrote a decent song with obscure lyrics. Lucky for them the lyrics have baffled idiots long enough for them to still live off the song. Sheep.
- bmn, Hisuan, Argentina

Yes Anna, I heard the message. It says, "Hey kids, this is TV's Don Henley! Please throw this record in the trash before it's too late! Prolonged exposure to our crappy music can cause premature baldness and Hepatitus B!"
- Julius von Brunk, Lancaster, PA

This song has a message in it when you listen 2 it backwards. Has any 1 heard it??????
- Anna, myrtle beach, SC

I think the line "since 1969" is referring to the Manson murders and/or the Altamont Festival. Suggesting that is the point in time when things went horribly wrong in California, and it has never recovered. "Mercedes Bends" is a reference to decompression sickness, also known as "the bends".
- John, Washington, DC

this song means more on drug addiction."you can check out anytime you like' but you can never leave" you are now addicted, and find yourself craving...
- cars, cebu, Philippines

For years I've loved the song Hotel California and many of those years I had little idea what the song was about. I've had dozens of people give their interpretations on the lyrics but none of them really satisfied me upon listening to the song again. Now I haven't read all the comments here, but I did read a good amount and from what I see, the arguments are there but no one has really hit the nail on the head yet. Through all the radical interpretations, and some research of my own I've put together a relatively simple idea of what this song is about that includes all the lyrics, not like some who pull a line or two out that they can fit into their argument and run with it without taking into account the several lines that confuse or disprove their idea. Look at the big picture. Hotel California is a comparison of those caught up in fame and fortune to the practice of Satanism. It focuses on one man's journey into the world of "Hollywood" (though this materialistic lifestyle can be seen on many levels in many places) It touches on the motif that nothing is truly as it seems. The song begins with a man driving down a dark highway, though it sounds cliche this road is the road of life. It is dark because of this man really has nothing in his life that brings him happiness, thus making him vulnerable to temptation, often the desperate tend not to look deeply into things that appear to be good until it is too late. He begins to notice the smell of marijuana and sees the lights of LA. Again, those in the dark typically do not question the origin of light. "My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim" The man is beginning to grow weary of his journey and again doesn't question where he is as this is the first place he sees on the road. "Heard the mission bell" means he has arrived in California. In reference to the bells placed on the highway in front of the 21 Franciscan Mission on the El Camino Real created between 1769 and 1823. The man finding himself in such a sparkling magnificant place thinks that it could be too good to be true. "Then she lit up a candle" a drug reference pulling him into the world of addiction. Now, the comparison of the rich and famous to Satanism can only be seen in the fundamental teachings of Satanism. Satanism teaches indulgence. They believe there is no afterlife therefore all pleasures and experiences must be obtained in our life on earth, refering to sexual promiscuity, drug use and materialism. They ultimately believe that you are your own God. Knowing this you can certainly see that alot of people in the modern day are living a similar life in LA or elsewhere. "Her mind is Tiffany-twisted" is an obvious metaphor for materialism but the Eagles' play on the brand name "Mercades Bends" is subtler as "bends" is defined as "to cause to turn from a straight course" meaning that money and fame can turn someone away from morals and ideals. At this point the man is desperately looking for some sign of the "place he knew before" and calls for wine. When the man replies "We haven't had that spirit here since 1969" He's refering to the Holy Spirit as the Satanic Bible was completed in 1969 by Anton LeVay in his house on 6114 California Street. The song continues with the "voices" either those who have already succumb to the lifestyle or the temptations in his head to give up and stay. Suggesting to "bring your alibis" or to stay and be whoever you want to be, but not necessarily yourself. The imagery of the feast is commonly used in the book of Ecclesiastes by a man who quite similarly had it all but still did not find fulfillment. Once again the drug reference is in the "steely knives" or needles but their hunger for more, their addiction (the beast) is not quenched. Once he realizes the despair in these people's lives he determines that this place quite possibly could be "hell" The phrase "you can checkout any time you like" is a reference to the high or trip that one feels when using drugs to numb one's true pain and run away from the moral dilema that many of these people refuse to face. The woman's comment "we are all just prisoners here of our own device" is quite close to the cliche phrase of most addicts "I can quit whenever I want" This song obviously holds true to the band as they didn't show up to recieve their 1977 Grammy for the song as Don Henley didn't believe in contests. The song requires a lengthy look at the lyrics to come to a meaning. Though this may seem way too incredibly long, three lined meanings are ridiculously too short.

this song gives me goosebumps evrytime i hear it and not for its spookiness setup or anything but simply becoz sometimes u get goosebumps in awe and this song does that
- zubin, mumbai, India

My vision of hell involves this song being played at maximum volume on a constant loop. I would be thankful if the Federal government waged a genocide on all albums containing Hotel California.
- Julius von Brunk, Lancaster, PA

TRUE STORY! I can’t tell you what the writer intended for this Song; but I can tell you from my own experience what I believe the song to be about. When I was 16 years old I was severely depressed and attempted suicide. When the privately owned hospital I was first sent to could not help me they sent me to Camarillo. This was in 1989 and the hospital has since closed down so I can see why kids who go out there for a spooky time would have to walk about a mile to get to the actual hospital grounds. Here is my interpretation of the lyrics based on my experiences from beginning to end… On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air (I was taken to Camarillo via ambulance and to get there you had to drive down a deserted highway with a strong smell from the plant life that surrounded you from all directions. I later learned that this was ideal for the hospital staff because they would warn of all the animals that would likely kill us before we got to the city if we tried to escape the hospital.) 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 (The paramedic gave me an injection of some sort of sedative just prior to arriving at the hospital so that I would be easier to examine and question for the intake process. This of course caused heavy headedness and dimming vision.) There she stood in the doorway; (there was a female nurse to do the intake) I heard the mission bell (I was told the hospital use to be a mission and there were indeed bells that rang out) And I was thinking to myself, 'This could be Heaven or this could be Hell' (I thought the same thing. I was told that this hospital was going to be able to take the pain of the depression away from me but at the same time it was daunting, scary and overwhelming and I felt trapped) Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way There were voices down the corridor, I thought I heard them say... (There were several different buildings that housed thousands of different patients ranging from the mental depression like mine to the criminally insane that had murdered people and as I was taken to my building I heard people murmuring and chanting all along. When she brought me to the ward I was to spend the next 8 months at I was again asked lots of questions by the staff and there were certainly voices down the corridor, some welcoming, some shrieking warnings to run while I still could.) Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes-Benz (My mind was certainly twisted and as for the Mercedes-benz, when you are new you are the cream of the crop, everyone wants to know your story and they want to be close to you) She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys, that she calls friends (again, all the boys want to know who the new girl is) How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat. (We had dances in the courtyard at least once a month and it was always warm like summertime) Some dance to remember, some dance to forget (obviously some wanted to remember how they were before they lost their minds, others wanted to forget what they had done to get them here to this place) So I called up the Captain, (The head nurse was usually referred to as shift Captain) 'Please bring me my wine' He said, 'We haven't had that spirit here Since nineteen sixty nine' (This part I have only heard about, but I was told that the patients would be given wine to help them sleep at night up until 1969) And still those voices are calling from far away, Wake you up in the middle of the night Just to hear them say... (If it weren’t the voices that some of them heard in their own heads it was the voices from the other units where patients seemed to never stop screaming or chanting) Mirrors on the ceiling, (There was a room where we were taken if we acted out and became an immediate danger to ourselves or others, it had a mirror that was really a two way mirror they used to observe us while in the room) The pink champagne on ice And she said 'We are all just prisoners here, of our own device (Each patient had their own “device” or disease, diagnosis) And in the master's chambers, They gathered for the feast The stab it with their steely knives But they just can't kill the beast (This reminds me again of the room we were taken to when acting out, we were strapped to a bed and shot up with thorazine to calm us down. They ‘stabbed’ us with the needle (steely knife) to inject the thorazine, but it was always temporary. For some, no drug or therapy ever ‘killed the beast’ of mental illness.) Last thing I remember, I was Running for the door I had to find the passage back To the place I was before (It came to a point where I just wanted to be back in the private owned hospital or even back at home with my demons but it wasn’t to be) 'Relax,' said the night man, We are programmed to receive. You can checkout any time you like, but you can never leave! (I was lucky, but the majority of patients at Camarillo State Hospital truly could never leave)
- CamarilloGraduate, Orange County, CA

Again...THIS SONG IS ABOUT HOLLYWOOD. If you get hung up about some of the undertones of the song, remember that it had not been that long since the Manson murders (in 1969), which may well have been what they were referring to in parts of the song. The whole theme is the dark underbelly of a superficially attractive place--i.e. Hollywood.
- John, Washington, DC

Why is it when a band comes up with a kick ass song, all the religious freaks come out of the woodwork to talk about Satan. Lots of people besides the band members themselves work on recordings, and someone other than a band member could easily add something to a recording, especially if it's backwards!
- Dale, Erie, PA

This is so incredibly dumb. The song is called HOTEL CALIFORNIA. The picture on the front of the album is the BEVERLY HILLS HOTEL. It is about HOLLYWOOD. Period. Listen to the rest of the album if you don't get it yet. "Life in the Fast Lane", "New Kid in Town". It's all about Hollywood and the entertainment industry.
- John, Washington, DC

One of the greatest songs ever written and a favorite of mine.
- Amber, San Francisco, CA

I grew up listening to music of the past. My father and mother listened to a variety of music. The Eagles came up quite a bit as my parents liked them. We had the album and we also had a reel to reel. My fathers cousin is a pastor in Ga. and he played the reel to reel backwards for us. Guess what we found. When you play it backwards the song clear as a day says " Satan my sweet satan your path makes me sad. 666" Now i know the band clamis that this is simply not true and that the song is about the dark side of fame but give me a break. Also why if the album cover on Hotel California they hired extras why is it the "lady" that is above everyone else clearly blurry. When you can see everyone else perfect. Professional photograpghers took the picture. Why was the image blurry? If it was done on purpose was it to cause confusion? Which it surely has. As we all know satan is the master of confusion. Go figure.
- ashley, anywhere, AL

I know that this is completely different from previous comments, but I personally think that this song means that when he is driving or whatever that he crashes and the light he sees is heaven. The 'hotel' symbolises heavens palace. When he goes in he find that it is paradise but you can never leave heaven once you are in...I don't know, call me crazy but that's just what i think...
- Kevin, Pooptown, Bermuda

It is one of the most powerful songs ever made by a band who is Just as GREAT! Weird enough my dad used to play me this song when i was little to calm me down and it worked so now when i want to relax i listen to this song! So agian i'm going to say it's an AWSOME SONG!!!
- Natascha, Johanesburg, South Africa

I think this song is about drugs and how u can never escape an addiction i just dont understand why they exaggerate so much with metaphors . cant the eagles just tell us what they meant maybe it was their purpose for it to never be understood and it really means nothing ha ha. anyways i think there are a lot more good songs and we shouldn´t concentrate on only one if we are not losers
- david, tel aviv, Israel

this is the only real meaning that THE ILLUMINATI are keeping away from you with false information: In order to understand this song you need to be aware of certain things. you have to know that the world is run by royal family´s since we started this game of life. U see we created this world for our consciousness to play in and we let ourselves forget that this life is just tricking god into believing that it is just a mortal human. The royal family sadly knows this truth since the Roman times and have been keeping it away from us (the peasants) ever since. They want us to worship them and their corrupt popes. anyway the song is full of metaphors and i´m not gonna translate them word by word for u. i´m just gonna put u on the right direction. The song is basically saying that our consciousness is in big trouble because we cannot just stop the game of life, cause there´s no god except us. and because of royal familys greed this life is a virtual prison for our consciousness. u see money is just a tool to make others follow YOUR WILL and the ones with the money (the 'royals' ) own ALL the money thus all the will that´s why there are so many williams in the 'royal' family WILL.I.AM. they call themselfes royals with BLUE BLOOD but their blood is no more blue then HANNIBAL LECTERS.
- Me, Bermuda

hehe. it is a myth that this song is about the old Camirillo State Mental Hospital (which they converted it into Channel Islands State University)
- Jeremy, ventura, CA

Here is the modern deal. These guys earned their place in rock in roll. Unlike the studio popsicle sticks that line the walls today, these MFs grew their hair during passage. In a way, its a trophy mark of the day. If you had monster hair and you were a musician that made it, you paid your dues. What happened ? Who are all these corporate piles of sht they are throwing at the kids these days. I am embarrased that my kids may not be able to distinguish talent from volume play.
- Edal, Baltimore, MD

I find it's humorous how everyone is so certain they know the true meaning of this song. Obviously the song does have a deep meaning, due to the fact people do not write without any insperation. Jack Green from HI, "I would have to disagree with your statment: . But I dont mean to say your idea is bad; it is, actually, metaphorically brilliant, but I dont thihnk the Eagles could have realistically written anything like that." They did. This song, take it as you want, is full of only that: metaphors. Though I do not exactly know what the song is about: hell, drugs, sex addiction, car crashes, or an actual place, I do know that no one knows for sure but the ones who wrote it. It would be amazing if they did, but look, years later this song is still one of the greatest rock songs of all times. I am only eighteen years old, and I must say that it is my favorite. Hotel California is full of mystery, and when you hear this song, you get lost within the words, and that is what good music is all about. Making you strive to be there, to see what they see, you get high within the talent of just ordinary men rocking out. You strive to be in their minds for just one moment.
- Courtney, Sebring, FL

Think about this: I believe the song is about a different "version" of hell. Hell supposedly lasts for eternity, and at first, the singer believes this place to be great, and then realizes that he can't leave, and his heaven turns into hell.
- Michael, Tucson, AZ

Whatever the songs "real" meaning, I have always pictured a somewhat mystical horror movie in my mind since I was a child upon listening to it ... very cool when a song can bring image clarity to your mind and soul. Also, definitely subliminal content in it ... my brain keeps telling me to play it over, and over, and over, and over ... bah, maybe it's because it's an awesome song that had so much impact on my younger years. ;)
- Scott, West Palm Beach, FL

Hi, after reading all those interesting Opinions, I totally agree on the addiction Story. it could not be clearer.But how nice this Song is, it reminds you so much of the sad fact, taht indeed, you can check out anytime, but you can never leave...and sometimes you want to dance to remember....
- Ben, Windhoek, Namibia

TO andrew, birmingham, United States AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Although I still do believe their meaning to the song. But I Am totally with you on your message! God is the answer and the key to our salvation. Without him, I'd be lost. I'd have no purpose. I am so grateful I have him in my life...
- Rocio, Canberra , Australia

Good song but it just isn't fair that they copied song from Jethro Tull and changed it little bit and then it became one of the worlds best songs.
- fgh, fgh, Azerbaijan

as an eagles fan it was always my belief that this song was always about a whore house. listen to the lyrics and you can relate.
- kevster, wales, Laos

Hey Junk maybe the song is about one certain thing but some people like to use our imagination and think about other things the author may have incorporated. If You don't like it then shut up and don't come to an open forum where you know people will post their own opinions.
- Zachary, Staten Island, NY

I think that this song is about hell or purgatory. However I have heard many people say that the highway and drug reference point to a car crash that ended with him in hell. I believe that the highway is figurative for a life of bad choices such as drugs (colitas), and that he kills himself and that is why he ends up in hell.
- Zachary, Staten Island, NY

I heard that this song is about the time Don henley spend in a rehab facility in Norco. Which is not the Norco Prision. I know a guard that works there and the picture on the front of the album is the front of the prision. Hard to dispute this one!!!
- michelle, Riverside, CA

many people have told me many different meanings of this song. but i personally feel as if this song is about the inner beast. no matter how bad you want to be good, or change you life, theres always something inside of you that wants to do wrong, and go against people. "you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave"... you can be a good person, but the beast within you will always return.
- hannah, Gainesville, TX

Gotta go with Ekristah, hallah, US and his version although I actually do like the song. Not only was it brilliant metaphorically and lyrically, but the chord progression is frightening in the way that it holds the listener, particularly the outro solo as both players trace the arpeggios and cycle them into eternity. I first heard the song as a child and it still haunts me, to the point that I had to learn how to play it in the belief that if I understood what was happening in terms of musical theory, it would free me from the emotional free-associations happening whenever the song played. It didn't work.
- Daddy Cool, Atlanta, GA

It's funny that Don Henley said that there were some wilder interpretations of this song. Well for many years I thought it was about a person(guy) who was living the wild high life and always was in this particular hotel and somehow died and he was in "purgatory" and it happened to be called "Hotel California" and he didn't was dead and was trying to go back home or leave "the place" I guess, and when he says, "I was thinking to myslef, this can be Heaven or this can be Hell", then he was greeted by a woman and she lit a candle and show him the way, as he pass through the "CORRIDOR" and he heard voices saying welcome to the "Hotel California, such a lovely place???and plenty of room. it seems that this guy partied hard, sex, drug, etc. and did things that weren't so rightous and as he died, and wen to the "Master's chambers" (the Devil's pit in so many words) and they can't kill the "Beast"..and he saw women and some people that he partied and did things with who were also dead and went to the same place where he is and he was seeing all of these devilis things that people were doing, like greed and people laughing at him and scared him so much and that when in another lyric he says he was running for the door, he had to find a passage back to the place he was before and he was told you can check out anytime you like but you can never leave. I'm sorry to me it sounds like the guy is dead and in limbo at this hotel and he is seeing every bad thing he did before his eyes.... That was my thought for many years and now its hard for me to think otherwise....LOL
- Miguel, New York, NY

I'm sure this has been mentioned previously, but the song tells the tale of an odd night certain members of The Eagles experienced while out partying in San Francisco. This led to this, and that led to the that, and they ended up at the Church of Satan just in time to watch a ceremony among its members. They mingled with the church parishoners, got to know them and what they were about, and witnessed a beast sacrifice. The Church of Satan preaches excessive living, enjoy yourself, pleasure yourself, do what makes you happy and don't feel guilty about it: The American Dream. The Hotel California
- nubosa, Houston, TX

i just don't understand what is wrong with people & i'm sure that all the members of the "eagles" have just grown so tired about answering all these ridiculous questions regarding the meaning of "hotel california" - at this point in time i'm sure that they probably wished they never even did the song with all the nonsense surrounding it, but i'll tell you what if this song has so much mystique behind it how about "led zeppelin's" "stairway to heaven"? can anyone explain away the lyrics to this song? please........ songs like this take on so many different meanings of it's own, with so many different interpretations, it's mind boggling to hear so many different meanings of this song from so many people... in the end i'm sure the band members interpretations of this song is the correct one... putting aside all grandiose or self indulged opinions... thank you very much...
- tommy, NEW YORK CITY, NY

I freaking love this song. I can tottaly see this in my head. I see this guy around some people telling the story and then you can see like whats happening. Never mind you have to see it like me to undrstand it.
- Bianca Sanchez, Alburquerque, NM

dude this song is freaken amazing . i bow down to the eagles .i think this song is about drug abuse but i could b rong some of mt friends think its about a whore house but what ev this song rocks out loud and thats all that matters
- alex, alaska, AL

Oi try the accoustical version of this song. An accoustical masterpiece.
- Dan, Mexico, MO

I can't say enough wonderful things about this song! I absolutely love it! The lyrics are so poetic and haunting and the music is breathtaking! The Eagles are one of my favorite bands ever! They are one of the best of all time and always will be! I'm an Eagles fan forever!
- Meredith, Wauwatosa, WI

November 25, 2007 on CBS 60 minute interview Don Henley was told "everyone wants to know what this song means". "I know,it's so boring". Henley replied. "It's a song about the dark underbelly of the American Dream, and about excess in America which was something we knew about".
- Emma, Westfield, ME

IMO, suggests re-incarnation with the line, "You can check out any time you want, but you can never leave.". The entire song seems to be about the inevitability of the birth/death cycle and the dance we do around it.
- Ado, Jenison, MI

Eight months to work on this song? Some of the greatest rock and roll songs of all times have been written in less than twenty minutes. If they are going to beat themselves up for a song for eight months, making it perfect, then you have to believe that each word of the song has meaning. There's a lot more going on with this song than they have let onto thus far. I just love the speculation of the meaning of this song! So many different theories.
- Steve, Chino Hills, CA

"Youn can check out anytime you like, But you can never leave." That scares me for multiple reasons, but I know I'm NOT afraid of the reaper. Iused to quote this song up and down my planner when I was in middleshool. (still am) and the solo is one of the greatest ever. As powerful anything
- ozzy, fresno, CA

Whatever evils "Hotel California" is about, whether its drugs, sexual immorality, greed, etc., this has to be about evils of some kinds. It could, in fact, be about all evils that entangle the people of this world. In any case, the Eagles are definitely warning against such evils and being entangled into whatever evils exist in this world. It's so true... Check out of those evils any time you want... it takes a long time to really leave. God can help you leave them, however... if you're willing. "You may check out any time you want, but you can never leave!" isn't exactly true about these evils, but if you're not willing to call on God to help you out, then after death, "You may check out any time you want, but you can never leave" becomes absolutely true. There are many souls who were entangled into the evils of this world who are endlessly checking out of HELL, wishing they could leave. But they CANNOT LEAVE!! TOO LATE FOR THEM!! Eternity, whether Heaven or Hell, can NEVER be undone!! SHAME ON US Christians for not warning those souls!! Now, let's do what the Eagles did and WARN THIS WORLD before it's too late for any more souls. You people may think I'm too preachy all ya wanna, since preaching about HELL is a scary and unpopular message; but I'm speaking TRUTH!! NO ONE can EVER exit the horror-filled HELL, so I don't want anyone to go there!! Help me, Eagles. Any "amens" to show you guys are listening?
- andrew, birmingham, United States

I've heard a lot about this (im)famous song. There are, in my humble opinion, way too many interpretations. Kinda reminds me of my time in rehab at one of the local cuckoo's nests.
- Joel, Columbia, SC

The word "colitas" in the song refers to part of the female anatomy.Its mexican slang for vagina or so my mexican girlfriend says.Warm smell of colitas? Interesting!!!
- brian, kilkenny, Ireland

i used to live in camarillo, ca and the legend i heard was it was the old mental hospital over there. now it is CSUCI California State University Channel Islands. that's just what i heard. and anyone who is talking about it is all about people in california and how they are materialistic and you never lived there. you seriously don't know what you are talking about, you are making yourself sound extremely ignorant, seeing as how that is a stereotype itself
- dylan, cam, CA

Peeps, once and for all, 'steely knives' refers to chopping coke with a razor blade. The 'beast' is cocaine. Geez.
- Ann, Sarasota, FL

Does nobody realize what it stands for? THC (weed) the hotel california... its only saying to do drugs and have fun =)
- Renee, New York, NY

Sex, drugs, money, fame, evil...all of those things are in there...and they're all being used to describe Hollywood. It's not complicated...just look at the name of the song...
- John, Washington, DC

So many comments to read... The song is probably about materialism. I also think it could be about drug rehab at Camerillo State Hospital. Glenn Fry & company did have various drug problems. There is supposed to be a corpse propped up in a window shown on the album cover. As for Satantic messages when played backward, that is just one of those anomolies that happen sometimes.
- J.R., Columbia, SC

I haven't been able to read all the comments (lots of repeats!) but the urban legend I heard was much different from anything I have found on the internet. When I was stationed in San Diego at Balboa Hospital, a friend beckoned me to the fifth floor window, and asked me what I saw. It was sunset, and the view was eerily similar to the Album cover. I was told the Navy denied all connections with the song or its lyrics. (Now, call me silly, but if they really did deny it, doesn't that usually mean there is SOME truth to it??) Since that time, whenever I listen to the song, I hear a story about military men disabled in Viet Nam and being "cared for" at Balboa Hospital. Some dance to remember, some dance to forget, to me, is the perfect artistic depiction of what veterans of gruesome wars go through. It sends chills up my spine every time. There is a mission in San Diego, and every once in a while you could hear the bells from the hospital. The line, they stab it with their steely knives but they just kill the beast, in my mind, refers to communism, and the enemy in general. You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave - what a perfect ending!! Checking out could either refer to leaving the hospital but always needing to come back, or... checking out as in orders to come home, but your mind is still back in country. Of course there is the "official" story that the song was written about hedonism in So Cal. But like any fine art form, one gets from it what one can relate to. - Kelli, San Antonio, TX The above is the most captivating explanation I've heard. From an old Vietnam Vet with some problems left over from that place-----It touches home and seems to make sense. I heard this song on the way home from work tonight for the first time in a lot of years. Listening to the song I begin to wonder what it was all about. My mind involuntarily rushed back to '68 and '69. I was in Nam. Nam experiences just kept rolling through my mind. When I got home, I could not get the thing out of my mind and searched the meaning of this song. Kelli of San Antonio posted this way towards the top. And it seemed to ring very loud in my mind. The big difference I hold is the meaning of the line "they stab it with their steely knives but they just can't kill the beast," is a reference to the beastly war and the things witnessed and done. We just can't make the memories go away. Bill---Dallas, Texas
- Bill, Fort Smith, AR

It's a metaphor for Hollywood, narrated in the style of a horror movie. I think anyone who has ever driven on I-15 from Vegas to L.A. at night recognizes the setting at the beginning of the song. He's smoking a joint, and the "shimmering light" is L.A. It's not that complicated. If there is a specific location they had in mind, it could very well be the Playboy Mansion, as someone said earlier.
- John, Washington, DC

I once heard that this song was based on the Silicon Revolution. The line "Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes Benz" is a play on words meaning that people were becoming more materialistic. The line "And she said 'We are all just prisoners here, of our own device'" means that people were there (California) based on the life-style they wanted and what they wanted. The last line in the song "'We are programmed to receive. You can check-out any time you like, But you can never leave!'" is also a reference to the Silicon Revolution saying that you can decide that you don't want a materialistic life-style but you can never truly leave it behind you.
- Tanner, Asheville, NC

i thought the song was based on the time that the cops took over a hotel because of suspisons of the mob... the cops couldnt distinguish who was or was not afilliated with it and held everyone prisoner.. it makes more sence if you truly listion to the song..
- Beth, Diamond bar, CA

Vanessa from WI: I just got through reading your thoughts on the song, and while I do not disagree with everything I must say when I first started reading it I thought it was brilliant. As I read on, however, it just felt like you started stretching it to much. The whole thing about the woman being a metaphor for the drug, and the mercedes and all that stuff...it was like fitting an elephant into a phone booth if u know what I mean. Were the Eagles that brilliant? I highly doubt their intention was anything like what you described. But I dont mean to say your idea is bad; it is, actually, metaphorically brilliant, but I dont thihnk the Eagles could have realistically written anything like that. If anything I think they are more literal, but I do agree that it is about heroine and therefore require alot of metaphors. And I also do not fully believe what Henley said when he declared that it was about materialism.
- Jack Green, Honolulu, HI

Great song, haunting lyrics. I grew up in L.A. near Hollywood in the late 60s. This song definitely reminds me of the phony glitz and glitter of Hollywood. I'm sure the Eagles were either boozing or on some pretty potent drugs when they wrote it. "We haven't had that Spirit here since 1969." What a great line. I left Hollywood in '69 and hitchhiked up to Berkeley. I think anyone can relate to Hotel California in some way.
- Rose, Martinez, CA

I haven't been able to read all the comments (lots of repeats!) but the urban legend I heard was much different from anything I have found on the internet. When I was stationed in San Diego at Balboa Hospital, a friend beckoned me to the fifth floor window, and asked me what I saw. It was sunset, and the view was eerily similar to the Album cover. I was told the Navy denied all connections with the song or its lyrics. (Now, call me silly, but if they really did deny it, doesn't that usually mean there is SOME truth to it??) Since that time, whenever I listen to the song, I hear a story about military men disabled in Viet Nam and being "cared for" at Balboa Hospital. Some dance to remember, some dance to forget, to me, is the perfect artistic depiction of what veterans of gruesome wars go through. It sends chills up my spine every time. There is a mission in San Diego, and every once in a while you could hear the bells from the hospital. The line, they stab it with their steely knives but they just kill the beast, in my mind, refers to communism, and the enemy in general. You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave - what a perfect ending!! Checking out could either refer to leaving the hospital but always needing to come back, or... checking out as in orders to come home, but your mind is still back in country. Of course there is the "official" story that the song was written about hedonism in So Cal. But like any fine art form, one gets from it what one can relate to.
- Kelli, San Antonio, TX

its about the manson murders if you ask me, think about it, whats the most famous of events of 1969? and happened in california? and anytime the song talks about leaving it means leaving the cult, they cant leave it
- bria, california, CT

When I listen to these lyrics, all I hear are the underlying references to Heroin addiction laced throughout the story. Maybe I see this because a) I am not Christian, so I can't identify with the meaning behind those related explanations for the lyrics; b) I know there is more to it than just a discussion of sexual temptation, because sex is something that can be shaken off if necessary, and the famous line that ties the song together is "you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave"; and c) I have been battling opiate addiction for a couple years now and it's a very intense, dark thing that has been dominating within me, so I am predisposed to reading between the lines for illustrations of different affairs with this drug. These references no longer seem subtle to me, but blatantly blare a portrayal of this man"s encounter with heroin. Hear me out, if you pleaaseee: The first two lines "on a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair, warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air" depicts a man riding freely, which is an important contrast to the reality of heroin addiction, which very much locks you in. Before encountering the "Hotel California" he is able to travel with no strings attached, and at the same time he can appreciate the natural beauty of the world through his senses--the warm smell of colitas--because he is not yet intoxicated by the false euphoria that heroin fronts. The "shimmering light" is the glinting temptation of trying an opiate... the romantic desire to feel out the sensation of ecstasy that it boasts. The idea of his head growing heavy and sight growing dim describes his inability to be keen/smart and ignore the temptation, The fact that his sight is dim shows that he has narrowed his sights on the idea of doing this drug. The fact that he was on a dark, barren highway relates to his desire to seek refuge at this "shimmering light" because, although he had freedom, he may have been lonely or depressed, seeking a way to improve his situation with light and warmth. (When you do heroin, warmth rushes through your veins..) However, the head growing heavy and sight growing dim also foreshadows the encounter with heroin cause they are both immediate/literal, and long-term/figurative effects of the drug. The seductive woman is clearly representative of the temptation of using heroin, and the superficial beauty of the opiate. The line "there she stood in the doorway" shows the initial way that heroin latches into his vulnerability" The "doorway" represents where he is vulnerable and exposed; the entrance through which heroin can figuratively sink its teeth into a person's soul and lifestyle. The fact that he thinks "this could be heaven or this could be hell" shows his uncertainty right from the beginning; his reservations about indulging in this, and the fact that he can sense it is the vehicle of some evil. But, like a woman can seduce a man with her looks and body, even when the man is aware of reasons he should not engage with her, he still is weak to her beckoning. Then she "lit up a candle" and she "shows him the way", and he submits to the call of heroin. The lighting of the candle falls in line with the shimmering light that represented the drug earlier, and it is reminiscent of the words "shoot up" (lit up) or the concept of melting the heroine in order to shoot it up. The voices singing the chorus—down the corridor (in the distance, beyond reality)— are figments of the rush of the world of heroin into his mind and his imagination and his bloodstream; Welcoming him to the alleged "beauty" of it. The "lovely place/face" boasts the superficial bliss and attraction of heroin" like the woman who represents its beauty on the surface. The fact that there is "Plenty of room at the Hotel California" just emphasizes the fact that anybody can be dragged into the dark slump that this drug insists upon with it"s abusers. While the woman represents temptation and the apparent greatness of heroin, hotel California represents this figurative place wherein all heroin addicts are imprisoned. "Any time of year you can find it here" It refers maybe literally to heroin" you can always get it in plenty, or "it" could represent the façade of heroin"s perfection and comfort" if anybody is feeling in desperation or lonely—like the central man in these lyrics may have been at first—they can find comfort here. The sing-song quality of the chorus, and these voices singing this tune makes it seem almost eerie and as if they are collectively brainwashed. The fact that all of these people live alone off this desert highway shows how heroin addicts cling to each other for justification, and they isolate themselves from regular society, so that they can entertain this dream world. The fact that he "thought" he heard them say these lyrics shows that it is still unreal to him, and that the world of heroin is surreal. The description of the woman and her twisted world in the second verse is a depiction of how heroin makes one believe that their life is better because of all these superficial feelings, so the lyrics are stocked with material images" "Tiffany-twisted" shows her mind being warped by this material designer, and the Mercedes. The boys that she plays around with shows the fact that she isn"t loyal or giving back the people she tempts, she doesn"t owe anything to them, and she has them at her disposal" she doesn"t call them anything but "friends". This relates to the fact that people sort of have this love affair with heroin, but it is a Drug, an inanimate object that doesn"t feel back. The "dance" represents using heroin" they dance with her" and some people use drugs for different reasons" some dance with her to remember how good it feels to be with her (to be using the drug) and some use it to forget how it feels not to be (to avoid the real, sober world) When he calls for wine, and the captain responds saying "we haven"t had that spirit since 1969" it relates to the fact that heroin and alcohol don"t mix, and heroin is a depressant in that it makes you drowsy and cozy, while alcohol inspires energy and the partying spirit that embodied the 1960"s. After the 1960"s, during the "70"s and the 80"s was when both punk music and heroin blew up, I believe, so by the time this song was written, it might be that the party spirit of alcohol had settled into a heroin epidemic. The voices (heroin"s advertisement) waking you in the middle of the night relates to the fact that when you are using, if you don"t sleep on heroin, you can"t sleep" you wake up in the middle of the night, sweating hot & cold, needing it. The different ending to the second chorus, saying "bring your alibis" may signify the idea that you should put everything into it, and trust the wonder and enchantment of the drug. Mirrors on the ceiling" yes for sex, but also sort of like keeping one in check, from up above. "We are all just prisoners here of our own device" is one of the strongest lines relating this song to heroin abuse" because you really do imprison yourself there, and hold yourself down as a victim of the drug. In the master"s chambers, they gather for the "feast" which is a feast of the drug, a place where everyone comes to fix themselves into a high. "They stab it with their steely knives" represents the addicts trying to kill what they have come to believe as uncomfortable, depressed sobriety. The aggressive word "stab" gets at that emotion. Their steely knives are their needles and syringes. "But they just can"t kill the beast" the beast has a dual meaning here" it half means the beast of sobriety, and it half means the beast of heroin addiction, and the fact that shooting up again doesn"t actually fully bring satisfacton. This dual meaning, and heavy contradiction embodies the nature of the struggle of heroin addiction. In the last verse, the man tries to get out while he still can, and enact that power in himself to get back to the place he was before, when he was naïve and innocent to the feeling and danger and darkness of heroin, and the night man says to him" "You can check out any time you like" as in: Sure, you can stop doing it, go through withdrawl and physically be done with it; "but you can never leave", in your heart and your mind, you will always crave it, you can never leave, it is forever embedded in your mind, heart and soul. Scary as f**k. Never do heroin or OxyContin, Please.
- Vanessa, Madison, WI

I know it's really about addiction and excess but for fun I like to think that the writer is in a haunted hotel the doesn't even exist and he actually died in the desert along with the other people at the hotel. "You can check out but you can never leave" can't leave cuz your dead. Lol
- Spog Zallagi, Blue Hill, ME

When I first read the lyrics, I interpreted it as being about drugs, specifically HEROINE: "stabbed it with their steely knives, but they just can't kill the beast" -- steely knives is a thin needle, a syringe, made of medical steel of course, used to inject the drug. And the beast is the drug itself. "her mind is tiffany-twisted, she got the mercedes bends" -- i dont know what bends is, but Benz is obviously a play on words reflecting their materialism. her mind is twisted because she is addicted to heroine, but also to materialism (because of their wealth). "she got a lotta pretty boys that she calls friends" obviously this is a little exaggerated and sarcastic. Basically, she sleeps around with other rich guys on her drug-infused sex drive. "you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave / we are programmed to receive" this of course is a direct attention to heroine, or any drug for that matter. They can check out any time, but they can never leave their addiction, and the drug "programs" them to receive it. Absolutely brilliant song. While I'm not sure my interpretation is fully correct, something tells me the artists (the band) wouldn't just reveal the full secret of what the song meant. I mean, if I were them, I wouldn't!
- Jack Green, Honolulu, HI

hmmm... i think you people are getting a little fricked out with it... i just see it like kind of a scary story that shows you the superficial the world is with metaphores.. that's it. and.. just because, i once heard that the song might take place in california, mexico, though now i know any place called california is told to be THE PLACE.. thnx!
- anais, juarez, Mexico

This song came out when I was a teenager in the dismal hellish ghettos of Kalamazoo Michigan. You know, Michigan Militia, ultra-right-religious zealotry, the whole nine yards. The religious leaders were finally realizing that banning rock-and-roll was turning out to be a lost cause because all the teenagers were "closet rockers". So they started at least tolerating Christian rock (though frowning upon it as borderline blasphemous for perverting "God's music" which pretty much had to come out of a pipe organ.) But when "Hotel California" came out, the religious right jumped on it as an anti-liberal anthem that would serve the children well to analyze. So in Bible School classes, they pulled apart the lyrics, word by word, as symbology for how even the Eagles, the favorite band of most of us closet rockers at the time, railed against the sinful lifestyle of anybody who would leave the Midwest agriarian religious lifestyle and head out for the big city lights. The "steely knife" was interpreted as the genitalia of a gay man who would rape unsuspecting Christian boys who dared stray from the farm. The "nightman" was of course Satan. "We don't serve that spirit hear" was, of course, a reference to the absense of communion in Hell, and the abandonment of God to sinners. "You can check out any time you leave but you can never leave" was reference to the "fact" that once you succumbed to the temptations of the "world", you would never be able to fully come back to the Church because your soul would always belong to Satan. "All that's out there is sex, drugs, and rock and roll" the dour old preacher used to tell us, "and even the Eagles, a band of this world, not of God, are trying to warn you to stay away." Naturally, his hellfire and brimstone scared the begeepers out of most of the farm kids, who dutifully got thru high school, married whichever woman the parents had arranged for them years before, and settled on their family farm to repeat the cycle of terrorizing their own kids, ad infinitum. The warnings about how California was full of sex, drugs, and rock and roll really scared them into staying down on the farm. But not me, nosirreee... I got the hell out of there as soon as I was able, and moved right out to California. Where, much to my chagrin, the free love days of the 1960s were long gone, and all that was left was AIDS, AIDS, and rock and roll. But hell, at least the rock and roll is great out here on the Left Coast. Better than Michigan corn country twanging.... And the Eagles were right: once I checked into California, I could never leave. I'd certainly not go back to the hell of Michigan anyway. So that's the truth. Pbbbbbt.
- Dean, San Jose, CA

Hotel Cal is a good song but the Eagles have 10 or 12 songs that's even better. That's how good the Eagles really are.
- Mike, Hueytown , AL

I think that it is either about life in California or about being in purgatory. The thing about it being about Satanists is dumb.
- Tim, somewhere in, GA

A lot of the comments here are crazy. It is very obvious what the song is about, but I guess a lot of people have a problem with metaphor. The title should be enough. This is a song that is completely trashing Hollywood. The simplified version is: it looks appealing on the outside, but these people are a bunch of evil sickos. Other songs on the same album address different aspects of the same theme: "Life in the Fast Lane", "Victim of Love", etc.
- John, Washington, DC

If you listen the song backwards you can clearly hear somenthing about satan.I know that cause I listen it a lott of time backwards.Something like-'Yeah Satan, he organized, oh, he organized his own religion. Yeah, when he knows he should, how nice it was delicious, he puts it in a vet he fixes it for his son which he gives away'
- Ivana, -, Czech Republic

I agree 100% with Bob Lubbock (TX)'s comments about Hotel California. The live version (?) in 'Hell Freezes Over' is my favorite because of the guitar finishing. Chris Kondo, Cleveland
- Christopher, Cleveland, OH

Another thing that one might not know about this song is that "colitas" means "tripe" in some Spanish dialects. I lived near a Mexican ghetto in Portland, OR from 1975 to 1977, so I would know.
- Darrell, Eugene

Is there a studio recorded version of this song? I've only heard the live one.
- musiclover, Toronto

the song is clearly about a struggle with addiction, it's kinda obvious... colitas=weed, spirt=alcohol, anything eles that needs to be cleared up?
- shawn, where ever, NJ

If any one out there has the old double album of Hotel California open it up and see if there is a picture of a strange person in the upper center looking out a window. If there is or isn't please post it because I understand if there is then thats a guy named Anton Levey who is the head of the Satanic church. Now I think that of course the song is partially about drugs but also keep in mind all that sex drugs and devious behavior is asociated with satan worship and the ocult. Some of the lyrics that turn me that way is yeah the hotel must be an abandoned church because of the words "I called the captin please bring me my wine he said we haven't had that spirit here sinse 1969" Of course wine being one of the symbols of the Holy Spirit I just figured it was an old abandoned church. Most of the song would reflect drugs and sex. The other lyrics that swing me that way would be "relax said the night man we are programmed to recieve" just like the brainwashing that does take place in the ocult its always one sided. But the kicker her to me is You can check out anytime but you can never leave" Also just like the satanic church once a member you are a member for life or it may be your life. Anyway all just another opinion. I'd love to here from one of the Eagles to straighten us all out how bout that ..Cheers!!!mike Spring Grove Pa.
- Mike, Spring Grove, PA

Haven't had time to read all the comments but I always referenced the song to Satanic worship and the fact that it was an old abandoned church taken over by these people this fella just stumbled onto one day. Parts like "please bring me my wine" he said we havent had that spirit here sinse 1969" of course wine being a symbol of the Holy Spirit leades me to believe it used to be a church. Of course all the sexual rituals asociated with satanism is noted in the song."relax said the nightman we are programmed to recieve" again a reference to brainwashing that happens in these kinds of orgainzations. And the kicker is you can check out anytime you like but you can never leave is true about a bonified satanist church once you are a member it's for life or it may be your life.I believe any of you who may have that old double album can you look on the inside where you open it up and you see a hotel lobby and up in the center do you see a picture of a strange man if so post it if you do because this is supposed to be the pic of Anton Levey who is the head of the satanic church.Check it out and see if thats true I'm not sure. Yeah I'd amagine the song is about that for sure
- Mike, Spring Grove, PA

I agree with you Emma. That is quite the interesting interpretation. I still think it's about drugs, not a hotel. Everyone is entitled to their thoughts, but it's not about a hotel.
- Chapel, Columbus, GA

Pierre, I actually think reading your interpretation of Hotel California is the funniest thing I have ever read. You can't even say who the lead singer of The Eagles is!! And as for your interpretation- Hotel California has nothing to do with being stranded and staying at a hotel. Please don't tell me people are actually naive enough to believe it is seriously about a Hotel.
- Emma, Melbourne, Australia

I agree that it is on anti-excess cocaine. I remember Glenn Frey stating somewhere too, because colitas is a marijuana bud and of course the ending - "You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave". Sometimes I felt the starting music of the song is also so haunting that it 'addicts' you to the song, practically showing you how cocaine is ;-) In my view, the best rock song of all time, liked by people who listen to any kind of genre of music.
- Mayank, Ranchi, India

Hey, alexandra, belgrade, Other - Europe....... That,my child, is bad spelling and grammar. Anyway, stop typing in caps, it won't change mine or anyone else's mind about the meaning. Listen to the lyrics: "We are programmed to receive," and "We are all just prisoners here of our own device." While I can understand how you comprehend the song as being about drugs, I comprehend it as some kind of horror story about technological takeovers. I have heard it said that the song has no meaning, but it's all in the comprehension. I know I'm not changing your mind, all I'm trying to do is give you all the way I pick it up.
- Bob, Bobtown, CA

Stephen in Claymont, I think that this song is about the hotel and motel industry, at least the "You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave" line. You can leave a hotel any time, but your DNA stays behind, especially if you bathe, use the toilet or engage in sexual activity. The rest of this song is definitely based on an acid trip or perhaps a hallucination on 'shrooms or PCP.
- Darrell, Eugene

Hotel California is a place of addiction.....whether they are drugs or other things. and towards the end of the song when this is said "and in the master's chamber they gather for the feast, they stab it with their steely knives but they just can't kill the beast" this is saying that who ever this guy is that he is trying to quit his addiction but some how the habbit won't "die".
- hailey, madison heights, VA

According to Joe Walsh, Henley didn't like the dualing solo at the end at first. He told them they could do better, then went out to dinner. Joe and Don Felder stayed in the studio and pretended to re-record that part and when Henley returned said that solo was much better. Ha!
- Bill, Downers Grove, IL

Is it about drug addiction, marriage, cults, or Microsoft? The truth is all these things are the same, which is why there are so many interpretations. Mainly, though, the lyrics of Hotel California are about listening to Hotel California. Specifically the song deals with the internal conflict that arises from hearing a great song come on the radio in an otherwise rubbish playlist at the exact moment when you were about to go to the toilet.
- Joe, Tyneside, England

Thanks Sam, I couldn't decide between what you said or If it was about if you do drugs a lot and then you wanna quit you can't because your hooked on them.... But yours sounds more likely...THANKS
- Stephen, Claymont , DE

Stephen, I've have always interperted the line "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 checkout any time you like, but you can never leave!" as being the climax of the song, that being famous and rich is always protrayed as being good but when you become famous u figure out its bad and u want to escape it but in reality u can try all u want but u can never stop being famous and you're stuck with that life forever.
- Sam, Portsmouth, VA

I've heard all the things that this song could be about, but all that really matters is DIRECT quotes from the band members themselves. Read above, it's about their high life. Almost all bands were heavily involved with drugs. But either way, the meanings some of you had were good too. -just adding my 2 cents
- Larry, Quakertown, PA

Taking the materialism interpretation of this song, the metaphorical woman mentioned at the start of the song would either be money or the allure of materialism. Comments?
- Glen, Charlotte, NC

the song is about what you want heaven to be. When he says "colitas" at the beggining colitas is another word for cannibus so what i think is he was smoking to much and then he says "up ahead in the distance i saw a shimmering light" well when people have near death experiance they say they see a bright light" now i cant explain every part but it also kinda sounds like its about a lot of different things
- ryan, halifax, Canada

I would rather light my face on fire and put it out with a hatchet and an industrial sandblaster than hear this song.
- Dennis, Athens, GA

I have always taken the song to be about a man who is in death. That is what I have told my kids anyway. I really did get a shock when I got reading so many different ideas on what it could be about because I have never taken it to mean anything other than what I suggested. I just think it is quite obvious in the lyrics as to the meaning. The song is very beautiful and almost makes me cry every time I hear it. It is without doubt the best song of all time. Angela. Sunderland,England.
- angela, sunderland, England

ive commented on several dylan songs, and then i thought of this, one of my favorite of all-time...its riff at the end is comparable only to a few other greats, songs like free bird and such, but i would have to say that its probably my favorite...my best friend and i's thought ever since we first heard the song early in high school was that it was about hell, how he arrives and thinks its such an amazing place, but at night everyone is up BSing about the "lovely place", then they cant kill the beast, a symbol of the irony that hell would be, never being satisfied...then of course the last line about being able to check out, but not leave is just another portrayal of the suffering that hell would be like...well thanks for hearing my opinion...feel free to tear it up
- Andrew, Cleveland, OH

I love the lyrics to this song so much that on my next forencics (voice acting) competition, I will try to get my drama teacher to let me read this song.
- Sam, Portsmouth, VA

People think this song is about a hotel of California but it is really talking about Heroin Addiction i know and other people know but some people think its about a hotel in california. The line that says "you can check out anytime you like but you can never leave" that refers to you can stop doing it anytime you like but u will always be addicted.
- Brandon, Winnipeg, Canada

I've been an Eagles fan since I first heard Take It Easy in 1972 or 1973. I've read a bunch of other's thoughts on the song Hotel California. I really think it's about the inner feelings of the guys after coming to California, making it big, taking some chances, getting caught up in the good life, having lots of money and experiencing great wealth, taking life to the edge (fast lane), thinking about where they came from and realizing they were caught up in the California thing. They were in a place they were not sure they wanted to leave. Could they leave? These guys came from solid, middle class families. They may have each been rebellious but most musicians are. The song was written 20 years before they settled down. I don't believe the song is about Satanism. I knew Don Henley and his mother at the height of the Eagles success. I saw Don on the edge of wanting out of the California lifestyle but it took him over 10 more years until he came back home. It's sort of funny to see the wild stories about the song. I can listen to it over and over and I hear different things each time I hear it. These guys wrote about what went on with lots of people my age, including myself. All of us has had the experience of "Lyin' Eyes". I wouldn't trade a minute for any of it.
- Bob, Lubbock, TX

This song is about California State Prison and an inmate attitude toward incarceration--"you can check out any time you like(as in DIE)but you can never leave". Another Eagles song about state prison is On The Border , where the inmate is using a telephone close to the perimeter fence an the gaurd monitoring the call says"never mind your name,just give us you number",as in prison number.I'm not positive but I'll bet Don Hendly or another one of theEagles did so time in the Penn.
- David, Paso Robles, CA

One of the greatest songs out there...it's up there with Stairway to Heaven and Bohemian Rhapsody
- Tim, Philadelphia, PA

I think deep down this song describes a man's unending quest to find the best cup of tea in California. After all, the tea in California is pretty dire.
- Lynex, Warrington, England

If you watch the "Hell Freezes Over" DVD (I'm pretty sure its on that one) the guys explain alot of what you people are trying to theorize. They say that the hotel is just a place in San Diego, it had no real part in the story, it just looked good. Then they say that the song is simply a metaphor for life in Califonia. If there's more to it than that, nobody from the Eagles said it. (It could have been on the Farewell I DVD). My main point is that he said the hotel on the album cover is just a place in San Diego, it simply looked good. That's all, there's no story behind it and it's not the Hotel Del Coronado or the Beverly Hills Hotel.
- Andrew, Puyallup, WA

This song is in tribute to a "Black Church" located in San Francisco CA. for those of you that don't know what a black church is... a synogogue where they worship the "black madonna" or "the mother of satan" this building is in the middle of town, near a bunch of houses, and the major difference in it is, that it is totally painted black! I know this because one of my good friends was a high ranking member of this congregation in the 60's and 70's. he has the tatoo on his neck and every thing. he said that many of the major rock icons of the 70's were somewhat connected to this place and it's haight-ashbury procimity. led zepp, the eagles, don mcclain, john lennon and a whole heap of others... this was the place to get drugs, cocaine, lsd... they had it all. just needed to pass this along, please send comments!
- jeremy, martin, TN

This song is about Hotel Del Corenado Located in San Diego, which is on of the most haunted locations in North America.
- Marta, Bellflower, CA

Did anybody entertain the possability that this song may simply refur to a drug/ and or alcohol rehab ?
- Jim, Somewhere, PA

I don?t really understand why people are thinking this song is about drugs or satanic cults. Come on people, think seriously. Take the song a bit more literally, but at the same time, just follow whats being said. Okay the song starts off, hes driving down the highway, smoking some weed, just hanging out. He gets tired and sees an old church ?mission? and figures that?s a good place to crash for the night. However, it seems that the church is no longer a church, but a brothel. ?this could be heaven or this could be hell? refers to the fact that you get pleasure here, but at the same time it?s a dirty guilty pleasure, one that feels almost defiantly like a sin. The woman who greets him is all dolled up and dressed up. Her ?friends? are the other clients who come to see her. ?dance in the courtyard, SWEET SUMMER SWEAT?, dancing is an allusion to sex. ?Some dance to remember, some dance to forget? people come there for many reasons, remembering a lost girl, or even to forget a girl who broke your heart. The chorus is just the sentiment of the people who come there ? lovely place, lovely face? the girls. ? what a nice surprise, bring your alibis? don?t let your wives know where you went. Here?s where its gets pretty obvious?. ?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? Prisoners of our own device refers to the fact that everyone succumbs to their most inate desires of lust. The ?feast? is the sex, They stab it with their steely knives, but they just cant kill the beast. They screw to quench their thirst for lust, but in the end all it does is make them want more. 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 checkout any time you like, but you can never leave! Here is basically after he?s done and he has that feeling of ?what have I done?. He runs out but before he does, a guy basically tells him, you can leave this place, but this place will never leave you. Henley was embarrassed that he sought comfort from a prostitute and this song was a way of purging his mind of it.
- Ray, bethlehem, PA

I think that this song is great but many people to me severely overrate it.
- Sam, Portsmouth, VA

In context with the rest of the album, I can see that it is about The Eagles experience in S. Cal. However, (since all songwriters leave interpretation of their songs up to the listener)to me it has always been about a man dying in a car crash (from falling asleep at the wheel) and ending up in Purgatory (the Hotel). Please bear in mind two things as you read the following interpretation of the song. 1. This is the way I have pictured the song in my head (like a video) since I first heard it as a kid. 2. Despite the references to God and Purgatory that I use, I am not a Christan nor do I believe in the tenants of Judaism and do not see this song as religious in any way. "On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair" *Guy driving either a convertible or a motorcycle.* "Up ahead in the distance, I saw shimmering light" *The headlights of an oncoming vehicle.* "My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim" *He falls asleep/passes out.* "I had to stop for the night" *He dies.* "There she stood in the doorway;" *The greeter.* "I heard the mission bell" *His death knell* "And I was thinking to myself, 'This could be Heaven or this could be Hell'" *No pearly gates nor burning fires because it's Purgatory, but since you're not told where you go when you die, Purgatory can be what you make of it.* "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" *He is welcomed to Purgatory by the other residents.* "Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes Benz She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys she calls friends" *Here we learn what happened to the woman he left behind after he died. The singer and his woman were both famous and the "boys" are hangers on now that she is a widow.* "How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat. Some dance to remember, some dance to forget" *What her and the handsome hangers on do (maybe sex). Some to remember him, some 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'" *I always felt that he is unaware that he is dead at first, so he acts like a regular hotel guest. No one has been that feisty for along time.* "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" *Again the souls of the dead in Purgatory calling to him.* "What a nice surprise (what a nice surprise)" *He starts to realize that he is dead.* "Bring your alibis" *No one wants to be dead, so he must be anywhere else and have proof.* "Mirrors on the ceiling, The pink champagne on ice" The banquet hall. "And she said 'We are all just prisoners here, of our own device'" *Every soul here did something in life that put them into Purgatory. Something they did or how they were that denies them either eternal reward or eternal punishment.* "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" *We all know that 'steely' is a nod to Steely Dan. I have always pictured this scene as God giving them a chance to earn their way out of Purgatory, but they never can. Also it always felt like the eternal frustration of sameness that must be what Purgatory is like.* "Last thing I remember, I was Running for the door I had to find the passage back To the place I was before" *He tries to go back to life, to living. 'Last thing I remember' because when he opens the door and tries to leave he passes out and wakes up back in his hotel room.* "'Relax,' said the night man, 'We are programmed to receive." *The night man is the desk clerk. He is explaining that Purgatory and death is a one-way door. * "You can check-out any time you like, But you can never leave!'" *The night man is saying that you can pretend to be alive all you like, but it doesn't change a thing.*
- Robin Kaufman, Auburn, WA

In 1977 I was riding a bicycle across America, Yorktown, VA to San Diego, my home town. I was with my girlfriend. We were close to broke and stayed in campgrounds and usually just pitched a tent anywhere to sleep. But we were riding along the beach in LA headed south, no place to camp, wondering how we would spend the night. We came to the Hotel California. It was a two-story building, painted white, clearly recently rehabilitated, but cheaply. It was August, but there were few guests. Partly because we loved the song, we talked to the manager, who let us talk him down to a price we could afford. It was the only hotel/motel room we stayed in that entire summer. The room had a stove, and frig., so we went to the grocery store and bought steak and potatoes and wine. They cooked up great! It was a good one-night stay. And they let us leave!
- Bill, San Diego, CA

Contrare to popular belief that the song is about a mental institution, in my eyes this song is about hell. And hell could very well be a giant mental institution - afterall it's "designed" to torture, and the mind of a person suffering from insanity is indeed tortured. If you listen to the lyrics with my theory in mind you'll definatly see what I mean.
- Lexxi, EG, NY

this song is the most overrated song in rock history
- kelly, Anchorage, AK

It is about greed: pure and simple. Greed turns men evil. The hotel, lavishly decorated and extravogant, is the symbol of greed. The woman in the song loves the attention of all of the men. In turn they desire her. Because of this, no one really ever leaves the hotel. I have been reading "The Shining" by Stephen King lately, and a quote from the book kept popping up in my head when I listened to this song: "This human place makes inhuman monsters."
- Patrick, Tallapoosa, GA

its a ghost story.... shimmering light in the beginning is the lady ghost tennant of the hotel alluring him. whatever happend at the hotel pbviously happend at 1969 seeing as they had no wine sence then. common superstition states that the spirit realm is closest to the realm of the living at the 12:00's and in the spring and fall solstices. the calitis flower blooms in the solstice and he hears voices in the middle of the night. anyone will tell you ghosts sound as if they come from far away. bring your alibis... referring to perhaps a red light districts sort of hotel. prisoners of their own device... whwne you die people say when you go to hell you have dinner with the devil (or beast pick one of the many names for the devil) stabbing the devil to try and stay alive because of course human nature is denial.
- john, seattle, WA

I thought the church of Satan opened in 1966 for some reason.
- Stefanie, Rock Hill, SC

We picked this song to death about 20 years ago in college. This is the information I got. If I remember correctly, there are some oddities in the pictures on the album cover. I believe that in the picture where all of the people are standing, talking and drinking in the courtyard there was some sort of small animals tail coming from out of the balcony. They say that this was symbolic of the beast. Joe, Vicksburg,MS
- Joe Adams, Vicksburg, MS

The Eagles wrote Hotel California based on the formation and opening of the first satanic church in the United States of America. It was founded in 1969 in CALIFORNIA by Anton Szandor LeVay. A sign of the times. Welcome to California, a lovely place with a lovely face There's plenty of room at the "Hotel California", any time of year, you can find it here. They're living it up at the Hotel California. The last thing he remembered, he was running for the door but then heard the "NIGHT MAN" say "relax, we're programed to receive, you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave. Because of the opening of this "church", California is compared to an evil place, "HELL." Joe, Vicksburg, MS
- Joe Adams, Vicksburg, MS

I'm from who think this song is about satanism. I know most of you think im stupid but when you listen to it backward you can hear ("satan he hears this,he had me believe").And who think that 1969 is a coincidence? 1969... 969... 666. that's all i have to say for the moment.
- john, st-gabriel, Canada

there is a real Hotel California, it's in LA
- Mr., Misterville, Canada

One of the best songs ever! Sadly hengda of singapore gets to try to scare the weak into believing the song is cult ridden. Can we just recognize ART for what ART is? And this song is the Rock Rembrandt, hands down! Its acoustic version on Hell Freezes Over was well, perfect. Saw the tour promoting the album in Wembley, talk about dazzling!
- Steve, Salem, NH

Its rather ridiculous reading some comments which said that the song is about marriage, drugs and all. Seriously, if we take time and dissect the song using a bit of our brains, its not hard to see that the band is subtlely hinting about satanic cult, though it is not in anyway saying that it is associated with the cult. We shall look at the lines in greater details. "On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air" ~ the protagonist was walking, seemingly dosed with drugs(colitas). "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" ~ he saw the church light, and since the side effects of the drug was kicking in, he had no choice but to stayover. "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" ~ A woman welcomed his visit. However, despite being a church(heaven), it was a satanic one(hell) and thus he had his reservations. "Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way There were voices down the corridor, I thought I heard them say... "~ he was ushered into the church and there seemed to be a ritual going on with all the voices around. "chorus"~ he was welcomed by cultists. "Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes bends"~ he saw a rich girl who was shapely. " 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"~ Subtlely, it hints of the fact that an orgy is taking place. " So I called up the Captain, Please bring me my wine He said, "We haven't had that spirit here since nineteen sixty nine"~ 1969 was the year the first satanic church was set up, and the spirit here literally meant ghosts. " And still those voices are calling from far away, Wake you up in the middle of the night Just to hear them say... + chorus"~ the ritual continued. "Mirrors on the ceiling, The pink champagne on ice And she said "We are all just prisoners here, of our own device"~ basic description of the interior. More emphasis is on the latter part when the woman said that people chose to practise this(satanic cult) on their own accord. "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 "~ it isnt a real feast we are talking about; it is a human sacrifice! They were using razor sharp knives to stab the sacrificial, yet they could never get rid of the demons that were residing in their hearts. "Last thing I remember, I was Running for the door I had to find the passage back To the place I was before "~ the protagonist got scared and he had to leave the place. "Relax," said the night man, We are programmed to receive. You can checkout any time you like, but you can never leave"~ he saw a guy who let him leave. The guy commented that anyone was welcomed to the cult but once you joined the cult, there would be no turning back.
- hengda, singapore, Singapore

I may be the only person in the universe who dislikes this song. Before you kill me, note that I do not say it sucks. It does not. I simply cannot hear it played without having it run through my head for the next five or six days. It was played to death on nearly every radio station on the dial for months. Like the song itself, one could not get away from it. The melodic line is played straight into the ground, and both the verses and the refrain end on that f---g dominant (fifth) chord so that the only resolution (return to the tonic chord) leads right into the next repeat of the pattern. (which of course, again, is the point of the song). I wondered if the hotel was sentient like Hill House or the Overlook, pulling unwary travelers in by causing them to feel exhaustion at the very sight of the place. Many people enjoy the song's irony -- a highly paid group whose label was feeding them cocaine in goldfish bowls, talking about the evils of commercialism and materialism ruining people's lives, but that theme goes back to Phil Ochs. The cryptic lyrics are fun by themselves -- It's about drugs! It's about the Satanic Church! It's about naked lady mudwrestlers!. The song is also attractive due to the quality of the musicianship, of course, but also because the recording was influenced by what was then termed the "cocaine sound" -- a lot of compression, a lot of high end, very clear and polished, with more Pledge being added in the studio. Like "A Day in the Life", it's that combination of cryptic lyrics and production that get your attention, and, unfortunately, mine. The minute I hear those opening chords the radio goes OFF. I will not stay in a store or cafe where it is being played. It's the only way to save my sanity.
- Ekristheh, Halath, United States

from what i hear "the song is about the eternal Abyss known as Hell on Earth...anyone venturing into this Eternal Abyss, will rise from the ashes of satan, to roam the earth in search of truth and justice and The American way
- pete, nowra, Australia

This is the best song of all time. The lyrics and the layered guitars. The best part for me is the beginning and end because of the instrumentals. Everyone thinks of this song as sadistic, about drugs, or having back words messages. Who cares, the reason why this song is so well liked is because no one is quite sure what the lyrics mean. Why do you think The Eagles won't tell people what the song is about. The Eagles know that if people know what the lyrics are about the song wouldn't be as popular or talked about. I love this song at a musician's stand point( I'm a guitarist). Strong lyrics and 2 very good instrumental parts(beginning and end).
- Ray, Stockton, NJ

Robotic/technological takeover? That's the first time I've heard that one!
- Stefanie, Rock Hill, SC

Guys my family studied this song many times over and found it to be about a robotic/technological takeover or drug addiction. You can figure out why on your own.
- Bob, Rio Vista, CA

Also a while back it has been rumored that most lines when played backwards said in different forms: "Stay at Days Inn, don't look under the mattress". It was not true.
- Bob, Rio Vista, CA

WOW... don't know where you guys got all this cult..devil...drug..stuff... you should all do a little reading... Hotel California...was the name of the Eagles Tour Bus... that's all... the song is about the band... Wow.. some of your comments are scary... do a little research.
- windle, montgomery, AL

I believe this song is about LA and materialism and the record industry etc, I heard an interview recently on the radio with band and they explained this. However, I previously interpreted the song to be about some sort of brothel."this could be heaven and this could be hell" (depends how you rate sex with strangers?) "mirrors on the ceiling, pink champagne on ice" "she's got a lot of pretty pretty boys, she calls friends" (just suspect!) "how they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat.some dance to remember, some dance to forget" (dance=sex?) "we are all just prisoners here, of our own devise" (prostitutes?) It makes sense to me?!
- Stephanie, Glasgow, Scotland

Hotel california is about being decieved by the devil
- Kenny, Miami, FL

What a furtive imagination some of you have. Interesting thread, and a classic example of how individual interpretation can soon digress into conjuring fairy tales. Most people here seem to be overlooking the fact that the best explanation has already been given from the men who penned it. The song is [i]littered[/i] with metaphors and deliberately so. How boring would a song be if every line were literal in it's meaning? Paradoxically, what makes this song so interesting, is that listeners tend to do exactly that, and then are left with trying to make sense of 'stabbing beasts with steely knives' - it's quite laughable. Interestingly, long before they eventually reformed, Don Henley was asked when the Eagles would ever get back together and he replied '...when hell freezes over...', hence the name of the comeback tour. Perhaps the same people who believe Hotel California is about devil worship, will also think there are evil doers in their droves skating around satan's abyss.
- Matt, Manchester, England

My husband has been looking for the LONG version of Hotel California. He said it is about 23 minutes long and had it downloaded at one time but our computer crashed. Did this version ever get put out on one of their CD's? Monica
- Monica, Pensacola, FL

i believe its about suicide it seems so good to people who are desparate and you can check out (a different phrase for die)any time you like but you can never leave (you cant come back from the dead)"my legs got heavy and my sight grew dim i had to stop for the night" (could be a refrence to the sensation of dying or the fact he got so tired of everything he wanted to "go to sleep" yet another word for dying.
- john, indianapolis, IN

At this very moment, I'm sitting in the kitchen/breakfast area of the Hotel California in Todos Santos with my wife; it's about 9:00 AM. Take Five is playing in the bar one room over, Mexicans are offering me coffee and chopping onions and laughing at jokes I can't make out, there's no pink champagne, no mirrors on the ceiling. Proprietor Debbie just dropped by and told me she's certain Don and the boys never visited her Hotel. But it remains a wonderland, a trip back in time and into another artistic/spiritual cosmos. Indeed, I was awakened at midnight by strange sounds: some local cat or raccoon was on our porch trying to break into our cooler. Otherwise, this could be heaven. . . To the extext the song may have originally been about LA commercial decadence, it is even moreso today. 70 km south is Cabo San Lucas, as disgusting a glitzy west coast tourist trap as can be found in the States, with Hard Rock Cafe karyoke, drunken hedonism on sunset cruises, stores that sell Chinese-made t-shirts promoting Budweiser and titty contests, and a time-share vendor at every street corner. Prices have tripled in 3 years: a hot dog sells for $15 at a nearby resort! "Prisoners of our own device" indeed! Walking the streets, the only clue that you're in Mexico is the Spanish spoken by the locals and on the street signs. Tourist agencies actually call it the "Los Angelization" of Los Cabos. Todos Santos remains beautiful and inspiring. I hope the Eagles, their promoters, and their average fans (excluding members of this webpage) will stay away, or visit it with subdued reverence and respect.
- Rees, Dahlonega, GA

Growing up, I never realized that Hotel California was about LA. But once I moved here, I got it.
- Shelly, Los Angeles, CA

i thought the song was about hell but its just a great song the lyrics might mean nothing but they are so cool but what i think is the best part of the sing is the guitar at the end and the drums bang bang every so often its just amasing im going to see them in dublin and i cant wait i missed the chance to see them last time when they where here doing the hell freezes over tour but nothing is stopping me going this time and i mean nothing all in all great group brilliant song -kenny, dublin, Ireland
- kenny, dublin, Ireland

I've allways though that Hotel California was a high security prison in the states... ins't that strange? just chek the lyrics.
- Luis Talete, Lisbon, Portugal

I like that interpretation of "Hotel California" being compared to the cave story. It works.
- Stefanie, Rock Hill, SC

Nick is right about the Robert Frost poem.
- Matt, Tsawwassen

I believe the song is an allusion to Plato's Allegory of the Cave. After reading this, please tell me your opinions about it. Summary of the Allegory of the Cave: People have been chained down in a dark cave for their whole lives. All they can see, all they have ever seen, are shadows of the rest of the world on the wall infront of them. Because they don't know any better, they assume that these shadows are real. One day, a prisoner is released from his chains. He goes outside of the cave, into the light, burning his eyes, but becoming enlightened. He decides to go back into the cave to tell everyone what he saw, but they don't believe him. In the Allegory, the darkness of the cave represents ignorance, the light represents knowledge, and the chains represent our perception of the world. How Hotel California connects to The Allegory of the Cave: Lyrics: On a dark desert highway Cool wind in my hair Warm smell of colitas Rising up through the air Thoughts: Instead of a dark cave we have a "dark desert highway" that, to the prisoners, seems like a nice place. Lyrics: 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 Thoughts: The shimmering light alludes to the "light" or knowledge that the man who broke free of his chains gained. Like the man, the narrator of the song hurt his eyes because of it. Lyrics: 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 Thoughts: "She" could mean knowledge; because the narrator has been in the dark for so long, he is still uncertain if he believes that the knowledge he's learning is real. Lyrics: 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 (background) Such a lovely face Plenty of room at the Hotel California Any time of year Any time of year (background) You can find it here You can find it here Thoughts: The narrator is still learning. The other people who broke free of their chains tell him that the light is much better then ignorance in the dark and it was here all along. All he had to do was think. Lyrics: Her mind is Tiffany twisted She's got the Mercedes bends She's got a lot of pretty, pretty boys That she calls friends Thoughts: Again, "her" means knowledge. The narrator is saying that she seems to have and know everything. Everyone else who broke their chains are trying to gain as much knowledge as they can("she's got a lot of pretty, pretty boys"). By calling the knowledgable people pretty, the narrator is starting to show that he believes that the knowledge he's gaining is real and the "shadows" are an illusion. Lyric: How they dance in the courtyard Sweet summer sweat Some dance to remember Some dance to forget Thoughts: Some (remember, the "they" in the lyrics above refers to the people who have broken their chains.)dance to remember that the knowledge they gained in the light is not an illusion. Some dance to forget the shadows in the dark cave. Lyric: So I called up the Captain Please bring me my wine He said We haven't had that spirit here since 1969 Thoughts: By requesting wine, the narrator is showing that he wants to forget the knowledge he gained. The Captain is surprised by this. Most people who come into the light never want to go back except for a case in 1969. Lyric: 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 (background) Such a lovely face They're livin' it up at the Hotel California What a nice surprise What a nice surprise (background) Bring your alibies Thoghts: The enlightened people still keep insisting that the light is better then the dark. Alibies will be needed for the individuals still in the dark; not everyone is ready to learn about the light. Lyic: The Mirrors on the ceiling Pink champagne on ice And she said We are all just prisoners here Of our own device Thoughts: No one can be forced to stay in either the darness or light; anything that keeps you in a place you don't want to be is due to your "own device." Lyric: 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 Thoughts: Don't forget, this is still from the narrator's point of view. He sees what the enlightened people believe and the events they take part in, but it all sees so weird to him, a person who has known nothing but shadows for his whole life. Lyric: Last thing I remember I was running for the door I had to find the passage back to the place I was before Thoughts: Finally, he can't take it and wants to go back to his cave. Lyric: Relax said the nightman We are programed to recieve You can check out any time you like But you can never leave Thoughts: The nightman tells him that he can go back to the cave, but it won't be the same; he'll never forget the knowledge he learned in the light of the Hotel California.
- Brooke, Miami, FL

Many believe that this song is based on Dante's Inferno and Dante's journey through hell. Through close inspection the lyrics detail much symbolism from the Inferno.
- chris, manalapan, NJ

These guys *are* geniuses. Still going strong=)
- John, Millersville, MD

At 64, I've just discovered The Eagles - in 2006. Yup. Peculiar, eh? I think this is just a plain great song. Period. It's like Robert Frost's "Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening," a poem that can, and will be, dissected down to its subatomic particles forever. These guys were geniuses. The imagery in this song is just plain rich. The guitar music is magical. It's a song. It's a poem. It's a tone poem. I'm gonna wear out my second-hand CD's.
- Nick, Raleigh, NC

In my opinion Hotel California is the greatest rock song ever written. The guitar rifts, the lyrics and the imagery this song conjures up is second to none. It is fun to speculate as to the "meaning" of Hotel California and its indiviudual lyrics as evident on this web page. But for me, this song will always be associated with driving, at night, from Arizona to California (paradise found). As you drive through the mountains on your way to San Diego you can feel the wind become cooler and the smell of the ocean fills the air. And you can picture yourself as Don Henley driving along on some great yet mysterious adventure. This is a song about decadence and a life without love that is all image and glamour but lacking in emotion. I relate this to a "look but don't touch" proposition. Hotel California paints a picture of a different type of lifestyle that is based on material wealth and status that tempts all who are exposed to it. The catch is that once you have attained and become a guest at the Hotel, you find yourself unsatisfied and even lamenting for the regular life you have discarded. The beauty queen you thought was the perfect woman has become a soulless void "...Tiffany twisted..." suffering from a one track mind having "...the Mercedes bends..." You should have known that this quest was not to be since all ",,,her pretty, pretty boys..." were just friends. The real tregedy here is not the fact that once you have forsaken all to reach a life of oppulance and excess and found it to be a purgatory of sorts, but rather the fact that your innocence is forever lost "You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave." Fortunately, what makes Hotel California, in my opinion, a national anthem is that it is merely a message, a warning, if you will, that all that glitters is not gold. We ultimately have the choice as to what path we will follow. We can learn from the mistakes of others and we can choose good over evil, love over material gain. We, as listeners can take confort that we are afforded a glimpse of a kind of Hell that is entirely avioidable. We still and always will have the choice to make and in that we are free and content.
- miguel, Glendale, AZ

"You can check in anytime you want but you can never leave." The preceding lyric was contributed by Jackson Browne. It was in reference to his wife who had committed suicide.
- John, Wilmington, NC

it's a sweet dream. it's a nightmare. it's a wonderland. it's a graveyard. it's our homeland. all of us are trapped in the hotel california. i don't know how to get out of it, and i don't want to leave, until the never ending tomorrow
- Bob, Zhuhai, China

To me this song is about visiting hell from the moment he arrives to when it's time to leave and he realizes he's stuck there.
- Mary, Tulsa, OK

This song is about a real life cult and cult house.
- Josh, Greenville, SC

What is amazing to me is all the various interpretations of what people believe the song is really about. To me, it is part acid trip gone wrong (all the references to "colitas", and the "you can check out any time you like but you can never leave", which shows that drug addiction has a powerful hold on someone), part road trip, and overall is a complete trip :) I love this song, and Joe Walsh's final guitar solo is classic, and great for air guitar :)
- Jimoh, The Bronx NY, NY

In the recently released Live from Melbourne DVD, Glenn Frey laughs off accusations of being satanic by jokingly referring to the period when the Eagles wrote Lyin' Eyes as their 'satanic rhythm and blues' era. He also jokingly refers to his first wife as 'plaintiff' and notes that his wife calls Take It To The Limit the 'credit card song'.
- John, Millersville, MD

If you play the part that says "In the middle of the night, just to hear them say" backward, it says "satan he hears this... he helps me beleive"
- Joseph, Chicago, IL

Most people don't realize that Hotel California is really a reggae song, as the emphasis is on the up beat especially through the background short chords and lyrics.
- joe, redlands, CA

The Eagles and Steely Dan were never the same group. The Eagles formed as the backup band for Linda Ronstadt, and neither of Steely Dan's members have ever been in the band.
- John, Millersville, MD

Wow! Lotta comments on this song. Here's one more: Joe Walsh did the solo in one take. Don Henley - ever the perfectionist - told Joe that was great, but try it again to get it better. Basically, while Don was in the other room having coffee, Walsh and the engineer played the recorded solo back thru the monitors, stopping and restarting a couple of times. Then they played the already-recorded solo back in its entirety, and Henley comes bursting in to tell Joe that the "last take" was the best! Little did he know that he was listening to the first take all along.
- Ed, Incognito, IL

I heard that Steely Dan and the Eagles used to be one big group before this song. They split because the Eagles wanted to name it Hotel California and Steely Dan wanted to name it the Hostel in California. Man...could you imagine what it would've been like if they had stayed together.
- Randy, Lexington, KY

The chord sequence to Hotel California is the same as Chim Chiminey from Mary Poppins!! The former is in B minor, the latter in C minor. Obviously the tempos are different, but you can use the same chords for both songs!
- John, Guildford, England

The "Dark Desert Highway" refers to a bad drug trip (in my opinion). Colitas is definately referring to marijuana, but it is a side note. The "Light" that they refer to is the ultimate high. Many rockers refer to this light. They constantly seek it. Once he sees this light, his "Head grew heavy and his sight grew dim." The thing that many rockers focus on when they sing about drugs is the contrast between the high and the "low". In this song: "I was thinking to myself, this could be heaven or this could be hell." Another line that supports this theory is "We are all just prisoners here, of our own device," which refers to the feeling of being trapped in an addiction that you and only you trap yourself in. The "Some dance to remember, some dance to forget" line (in my opinion) contrasts the stages of addiction amung the characters of the song. Some do it to get high, some do it to survive. I love metaphorical music, I'm not a drug addict I promise! It just seems that all of the music from this era can be inturpreted this way. Unlike today, musicians could not flat-out speak of their debauchery, so they used metaphors. It started with Muddy Waters, was copied by the Stones and Beatles, re-invented by Bob Dylan, and killed by the blunt rappers who can say anything and still get on the radio. Regardless of your inturpretation, great song with great poetry. This is my first post by the way, I love this site.
- Joe, Charlotte, NC

This thread is a trip! I often wondered about the "steely knives" bit. The rest I just figured was drug-induced lyrical writing. Anyway, one of my favorite song from my childhood. Not much to add other than that. ;)
- James, Vidalia, GA

In this song theres a decent story, enough chords and orchestral flavour. Perhaps the pop song n:r 1 of all times. It reminds me of the movie "Shine"
- hese, raahe

There most certainly is a reference to Jackson Browne's first wife in "Hotel California." According to an interview with Don Felder himself in Guitar Player, 1994, the line "you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave" is about Phyllis. Here's the link: http://www.eaglesfans.com/info/articles/felder_long_run.htm
- Gabrielle Luthy, Paris, France

I know a guy who claims it is about insanity.
- daniel, Cincinnatti, OR

this is #1 drivin song!! lol. i'm addicted to this song esp. the acoustic version
- Amanda, Pleasanton, CA

Adam, about that version with Clapton--I have no idea, I've never heard of one, but I'm gonna look that up now because that would be the coolest thing EVER.
- John, Millersville, MD

Does anyone know if The Eagles ever did a live show with Eric Clapton, because I have a version of Hotel California that says that it was performed with Clapton. I think that it is just a live show by the Eagles, but I didn't know! Thanks!
- Adam, Lawrencetown, Canada

In my opinion, this song is depicting drug/alcohol addiction. "You can check in anytime you want but you can never leave." I love this song-it is a classic. The time in which it was created and the many drug/alcohol references support this thought.
- Laura, Memphis, TN

yeah, umm i really dont think this is about a haunted hotel. lol. wow thats the most rediculous explanation for this song yet. eherm. well just work on that.
- meg, BR, LA

I like this song a lot, and I have a friend who can play it beautifully on his guitar.
- Galina, New London, CT

The play called "No Exit" by Jean-Paul Sartre was written in 1944. I think you all will find some VERY startling comparisons between "Hotel California" and the play. In fact I would go so far as to say "Hotel California" was modelled off the play. Read it here: http://www.nyu.edu/classes/keefer/hell/sart.html
- Tom, Miami, FL

I'm pretty sure this was not Henley's intent when writing this, but when listening to it there are some very obvious similarities with Homer's "The Odyssey." It?s been a long time since I read it so I can?t be very specific without confusing a lot of people, but just something to think about.
- Christopher, Derwood, MD

Cathy in Portland should give this thread to Felder. He could use a good laugh. And Emma in Australia - this song has NOTHING to do with Jackson Browne's first marriage. The song is about what Henley says it is about - the dark side of success in Los Angeles. Nothing more and nothing less. But it's fun to read what folks get out of this song, I must say! Take it easy, everyone.
- sally, LA, CA

i heard on the radio many many years ago it was about a famous whore house on the California highway. and years later i heard some were else it burnt down in the 90s his could go on for years thats whey it's such a good song
- mark, birmingham, England

wow joseph yours looks fancy. and everyone else: all of you have such good arguments! the weird thing (and pretty cool too, i don't know if they did it on purpose or not) is that it not only can mean a lot of things, but it makes PERFECT SENSE for a lot of things too...i find that different than most songs.
- Jeanette, Irvine, CA

hi guys, lemme first tell ya that i'm not an avid music fan like many of u must be, and that i listen to songs only occassionally... i frankly don't understand why many guys have made such an unholy fuss over a great song like this one, although the band might have benifited from the publicity... the song's just a way of saying that publicity and fame are not as glamorous as we think, and certainly not desirable if we wanna lead a normal, contented life...
- Jubin, Pune, India

This song made me become a Don Henley fan...i saw him play "Hotel California" at a Stevie Nicks and Don Henley show this summer... and i was amazed!
- Rhiannon, Sarver, PA

cool john! i was raised on steely dan too...and kind of the eagles.
- Jeanette, Irvine, CA

Great Great song!! I love it.
- Evie, Groningen

I agree Irving...and the best part, for me, is that I was raised on Steely Dan and the Eagles (among others), and I never made that connection. Steely knives...it never clicked until I stumbled upon this site a while ago, and hearing that two of my favorite bands were sending messages to each other in some of my favorite songs is too cool.
- John, Millersville, MD

I am a 57 year old female and hotel california has always been my favorite song. It has fit my mindset so many times during the trials and tribulations of life -better than any other song, ever. Reecently I told my kids (35, 21, 20, and 17) that when they spread my ashes at sea I want them to play hotel california and have everyone sing along. No eulogy-just this song!!
- reatha, ocean pines, MD

steely dan is awesome. come on, who else puts "turn up the Eagles the neighbors are listening!" in their songs? o yeah and this song is one of the best songs of all time.
- Jeanette, Irvine, CA

"I remember De Niro in The last Tycoon. He's got this scene, and he's talking to some other people in his office. He speaks to them: "The door opens...the camera is on a person's feet...he walks across the room...we pan up to the table...he picks up a pack of matches that says 'the such and such club' on it...strikes a match and lights a cigarette...puts it out...goes over to the window...opens the sahed...looks out...the moon is there...what does it mean? Nothing. It's just the movies." Hotel California is like that. We take this guy and make him like a character in The Magus, where every time he walks through a door there's a new version of reality. We wanted to write a song just like it was a movie. This guy is driving across the desert. He's tired. He's smokin'. Comes up over a hill, sees some lights, pulls in. First thing he sees is a really strange guy at the front door, welcoming him: "Come on in." Walks in, and then it becomes Fellini-esque-strange women, effeminate men, shadowy corridors, disembodied voices, debauchery, illusion...Weirdness. So we thought, "let's really take some chances. Let's try to write in a way that we've never written before." by the way, what is it with people saying some lyrics are satanic? one mention of drugs, people are convinced it's about the devil. either you like the lyrics or you don't. btw, if anyone's interested in the band's POV, buy Eagles the best of cd, it has a nifty booklet where the band descbribes the meaning behind the songs, it's great.
- Michelle, Anaheim, CA

'Hotel California' is probably the truest interpretation of the culture in the '70s. It's also The Eagles at their peak. Plus, it has some of the best guitar work ever recorded. and, it's the Eagles for God sakes!
- Mike, Carrier Mills, IL

I think its about a guy in dream land dreaming of "HELL" and what its like down there. CUT AND DRY!!
- wayne, DENVER, CO

i don't understand why everyone believes all of this subleminal message b.s. every rock song is not satanic. i mean who here has really played hotel california backwards? i think it's a great song and i've loved it ever since i can remember.(even though i'm only 13) i love the guitar music and the lyrics are rock and roll magic.:)
- melody, jacksonville, FL

Who gives a flying fatmans butt! its one of the greatest rock and roll songs ever!
- Garrett, oklahoma, PA

The song is outstanding,the music is outstanding and so are all the band members.
- rahul, mumbai, MI

This thread is sooo funny. I'm gonna have to print it out and give it Don (Felder) I can't stop laughing at some of the comments people have given for the song's meaning. Don will get a laugh out of it too! From my understanding there really isn't a meaning it's left up to the listener's own imagination that's why there are so many different opinions on what it means.
- Cathy, Portland, ME

This is all very interesting, although to be honest, it's a great song whatever. I've heard everything from it being about a brothel to drugs, and I've come to the conclusion that it doesn't really matter, so long as the song moves you. It can have many different meanings to many different people. And, as a side note, I just read this post: "I always thought that there was a legendary group of "devil-worshippers" or pagens, they called themself, the Hotel California. A strange interpertation, but I'm sure it has something to do with the devil. - Allan, Greebock, Scotland". Just wanted to say, pagans are NOT necessarily devil worshippers. In fact, depending on what branch of paganism you're referring to, many don't even believe in the devil. ...and now I'll shut up :o) Taz, UK
- Taz, Midlands, England

The song is about hedenism in the 70's, Hotel California is a metaphor for the west coast music industry promoting talentless artist and introducing a world of unlimited sucess. This puts the nail in the coffin: http://www.snopes.com/music/songs/hotel.htm
- steve, Cedar Grove, NJ

The comments on this song are funny and WAY out there. For starters, Don Felder was the originator of this song. He wrote all the music for the song with the exception of Joe Walsh's solo and the dual guitar solo, which was co-wrote by Felder and Walsh. Felder brought the music to Henley, who decided they needed to record it. Henley and Frey came up with the lyrics for the song. According to Henley and Frey, the song was basically was about the dark side of the lifestyle inside of the California music industry. Hotel California is a metaphor for that lifestyle, which the Eagles discovered that once they were immersed in it, they were trapped.
- Matt, Santa Rosa, CA

I reallly like this song, the guitars, drumin, and lyrics make it an all time classic. the line, "you can check out but you can never leave" means to me that you can kill yourself, your physical body, but your spirit will always be in the game so to speak. We can't exit the game. Although I would like to at times.
- rich, santa cruz, CA

Chris from Milford I think you have summed it up well. Brian from Mayfield, I sooo agree. Tool is the only modern band with that kind of genius and the drumming is something else. Hotel California is a true classic; I can't be bothered writing every little bit of my interpretation as I can't come close to describing it's intricate detail, but basically to sum it up in a few words I think it says: 'You reap what you sew'..
- Elysia, Hamilton, New Zealand

Hey there's more to California than excess and materialism, thank you. This song could take place anywhere, it just happens to be set here. Also, the Eagles are not satanic and this is one of the best songs ever written just because there can be so many different interpretations that fit it. Each person can have their own opinion.
- Paige, San Diego, CA

Cripes, I really didn't mean to insult any Californian. The name of the song *did* have California in it. Please don't be touchy. Lots of positive things in that place too - I know that... There are lots of good people and bad people WHEREEVER you go. And in my opinion, some of the most soulful music in America comes from that state, and lot of creativity in general. I base my comments on interviews I have read by Henley. He said the album was basically about Californian lifestyle and mindset, so if there are negative things said, take it up with him. All I meant to do was shed some light on the song's supposed meaning, not slang off anyone.
- Liquid Len, Ottawa, Canada

There should be an option on this site to automatically filter out brainwashed moron comments about 'satanic messages'.
- Liquid Len, Ottawa, Canada

This song is about the Californian lifestyle of excess. How it often produces materialism and shallowness. This theme runs through a lot of other songs on the 'Hotel California' album. 'Life in the fast lane' - messed around and got lost / they didn't care they were just dying to get off 'New kid in town' where fame means nothing more than being the flavour of the minute. 'The last resort' about the hidden costs of all the pleasures and material goods.
- Liquid Len, Ottawa, Canada

The line 'In the middle of the night, just to hear them say' backwards sounds clearly like 'Satan hears this, he had believe'. it is not in my opinion that bands like the almighty Led Zeppelin and the Eagles intentionally put subliminal satan messages in their music on purpose, i just think they sound pretty friggin' cool
- Danny, Sydney, Australia

This is by far one of the best songs ever written, played, or heard. (Along with Stairway to Heaven and Eruption) I cannot believe some of the assumptions made about this song. Has it ever occurred to you that some of these groups might have just written the song to make a debate? They know exactly what it means and they aren't telling for a reason. In all honesty, when you think about it, why would Hotel California be satanic? "My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim" HELLO?! Drugs people...drugs...it's not hard to figure out...just like Stairway to Heaven has o do with suicide. Hence the name. The Eagles used Hotel California as a setting that posed as a state of mind. Hotel California is the place that people go when they are becoming addicted to drugs. La La land, if you will...in the song it speaks of decision, the feeling of being trapped and trying to escape, all signs of drug addiction. "Some dance to remember, some dance to forget" dancing can be taken as feeling light and away. Forgetting is a common effect of drug use. "Last thing I remember, I was running for the door" obviously trying to escape the addiction. Marriage in California can happen anywhere, it is just stereotyped because of the population and celebrities. Anyone can have marriage problems. Divorce? Same thing. People, stop with the satanic comments! The Eagles are not satanic, and just because they sing about something doesn't mean they participate in it.
- Lauren, Morrisville, MO

Ah. Best SONG! We always jam to this crusing.
- Kelly, Corpus Christi, TX

I see the symbolism in the song, and it really does point out key things that seem to be problem even today. But personally, when I hear the song, and that liquifying riff sweeps over me, I cannot help be think of the afterlife. And when you listen to lyrics, the song just seems to speak in a seperate voice. Very few songs have such power over people, the eagles really did something magical when they finished Hotel Californa...
- Stone, Libertyville, IL

Just a side note: The Presidio of Monterey in California where the Army has the Defense Language Institute is nicknamed the "Hotel California" by the men & women who serve and have served there. Just about everyone on the post is in military intelligence (I know all about the oxymoron) and they are not your "typical soldiers" and POM/DLI is not your typical post (ie. no gates, no marching, etc.). The whole experience of being stationed there is kind of surreal and not indicative of "noramalcy" in military life (if there is such a thing). The nickname is apt. It's just another example of how this song can mean so many different things to so many different people, I think that's what makes it great. I just wonder if the Eagles knew what they were putting out there when the wrote and recorded it.
- Cory, Abilene, TX

1. To "A" from Tucson: The Gipsy Kings didn't write or record "Hotel California" first. The Gipsy Kings didn't even put out their first record til 1987, a full decade after the release of "Hotel California". 2. My two cents on "HC": I believe that one has to consider the entire album to derive the meaning of the song "HC". The song "HC" serves as an all-encompassing intro to what the rest of the album is about; the California lifestyle, the recording industry, drugs, sex, greed, religion, shamans as prophets, the environment and of course, love (what would an Eagles album be without a love song or two?) Track One, "Hotel California", sets you up for tracks Two through Nine...it's called exposition. Of course, this is not gospel, just my thoughts.
- Paul, baltimore, MD

I have listened to Hotel California for as long as I can remember, and after much deliberating I have come to the opinion that Hotel California is about marriage & suicide. Jackson Brown is a close friend of the Eagles, and his wife killed herself in the spring of 1976. It is believed that he met her around 1969- hence the line---------> "we haven't had that spirit here, since 1969". Jackson Brown wrote many of the Eagles songs, and I believe that Hotel California is about his marriage to Phyllis Major. The very lines in the song--------> 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 Describes how he met his first wife Phyllis. The song then skips ahead a few months to when Phyllis & Jackson Browne are getting married, and he describes his uncertainity as he says "I heard the mission bell, and I was thinking to myself this could be heaven or this could be hell". The chorus then skips to the present, with Jackson Browne remembering Phyllis. It then jumps backwards, where he expresses how being married to Phyllis isnt how he imagined. "Her mind is Tiffany twisted She's got the Mercedes bends She's 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". The next few lines in the song are crucial, he says "So I called up the Captain, please bring me my wine. He said we haven't had that spirit here since 1969". This reflects back to when he and Phyllis first met, and how it was everything he ever wanted, then it changed. "And still those voices are calling from far away wake you up in the middle of the night just to hear them say..." These lyrics talk about Jackson dreaming of his wife Phyliss, and seeing her in his dreams, after she had passed. "Mirrors on the ceiling Pink champagne on ice And she said We are all just prisoners here Of our own device" -------> These lyrics talk about suicide, and how we all are really just prisoners of our own device, and how some can break away from it and others can't. The final lyrics in the song---------> "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 nightman We are programed to recieve You can check out any time you like But you can never leave" Particularly the "You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave" lyric refers once again to suicide, and how even once you have committed suicide, you still haven't really escaped. You live on in the hearts of those you left behind, and even though suicide seemed like the only escape, you still didn't leave. The whole theme of the suicide/marriage of Jackson Browne to Phyllis Major really fits. Just read the lyrics and you will understand how it fits.
- Emma, Melbourne, Australia

I always thought that there was a legendary group of "devil-worshippers" or pagens, they called themself, the Hotel California. A strange interpertation, but I'm sure it has something to do with the devil.
- Allan, Greebock, Scotland

Alicia (Lakeville).....thanks for your input....never saw that coming......
- Sanjeev, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

I think everyone is ignoring the line "LAST thing I remember..." which sort of gives us an idea about what finally happened to the main character, i.e. either he lost consciousness or something like that. Also, the line just before it "Just can't kill the beast" is the most unpleasant line in the song and tells that this character saw some gruesome act which motivated him to flee from the place.
- Tushar, Baroda, India

Well seems odd but myself, being rather dumb when taking meaning from lyrics though this was about a haunted hotel. "On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air " Just descirbing setting "Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light " When he was driving and doing some drugs he saw a place up ahead "My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim I had to stop for the night " After all the drugs he had to stop and sleep "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" I don't know what this has to do witha haunted hotel "Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way " Person showing him his room "There were voices down the corridor, I thought I heard them say... Welcome to the Hotel California " Ghosts in the haunted hotel talking to him. I am not very good with lyrics. This is just what I quickly thought. This song was sung before I was born and I think it is brilliant.
- Mike, Winnipeg, Canada

I'm a medical Platoon Leader in Iraq. We call our Barracks the Hotel California. It houses the Medics Mortars and Scout. We have had more wounded and killed than any other section in our unit. All of those men have checked out, but they will never truely leave here. They will always be remembered staying in The Hotel. We have stabbed the enemy with our steely knives, but we still haven't killed that beast.
- Doug, Ramadi, Iraq

Colitas means tails in spanish which is slang for ass.
- Mike, Kitchener, Canada

Most of you guys are clearly way off and confused. This song is about the church of satan. The church of satan is a converted HOTEL located on CALIFORNIA street in downtown SF. read the lyrics. It's all relating to satanic rituals, and his experience getting mixed up in that kind of place. Although, it is not glorifying satan, it still is staying on this topic. Also, Anton Lavey, (the founder of the church of satan) is inside of the album cover.
- zack, St. Louis, MO

I think that it's a man trying to get out of a relationship that he's stuck in while using drugs and alcohol to cure his problem. He has a woman that is so manipulative and addicting that he cannot pull away. She is the Hotel California.
- Chantall, Pasadena, CA

please man this song rocks
- eddie, Petaluma, CA

This is #49 in Rolling Stone's list of 500 greatest songs.
- Ross, Independence, MO

Also, my friends and I used to think the "spirit" that hasn't been around since 1969 was because that is the year the N.Y. Mets won the World Series. Could it be for Woodstock?
- Bill, southeastern part of, FL

My dads one of those old, people who listened to Alooottttt of music, and wont get rid of the 1800 records they have, which i cna understand, but my dad read somewhere that, the guy wrote this song about a friend who was addicted to cocaine.. it fits the lyrics if you think about it.. who knows..
- Jodi, Uvalde, TX

The song 'Hotel California' tells us about a man who was caught an odd closed society of mysterious men. At first it is difficult to understand what that society is. You feel free and easy there. But soon you realize the society is cruel, phony and even malicious and hostile, because it never lets go of you. You must submit your soul and will to strange and cruel rituals and laws. The song's hero understands that this 'lovely place' is just a screen in order to entice people to the trap. The song doesn't give us a response what happens with the main hero in the future. But I think he'll manage to leave that sweet deceptive 'Hotel California'.
- Anry, Jerusalem, Israel

"Warm smell of colitas," huh? I always thought it was colitis (inflammation of the colon) and that the "warm smell" was that of flatulence. Go figure.
- Bill, southeastern part of, FL

I always thought that this song was about a cult
- Skuli, Brookfield, WI

i dont know about the theory from joseph but its really good is very creative. i think its a damn good explanation for this song and if the eagles would have read that they would have been impressed. i think this song is really great. i know it by heart and was dying to know what the hell it meant. the eagles are my favorite band. i have one of their dvds (hell freezes over) great cd and dvd and hotel california is one of the songs that made me want to look into the eagles more. even though desperado is my favorite song. i also heard of teh rumor about hotel california being a satanist church but i beleive it is just a metaphor of course. i get very excited when i hear the beginning of this song. its very beautiful and i would never turn it off if i heard it. this song is really great and the newer music these days i agree with some of the comments dont have deep meanings and i love trying to figure out lyrics. i also agree that this is a song that you can make your own and give it w/e meaning you want. like ive seen from the other comments there are alot of reasonable meanings to this song and i love seeing what other people think and seeing if they think anything like me. in this song i kinda thought he died in the beginning and had gone to hell or somthing like that. well anyways my long winded prays for the eagles is finally ending and i have to admit that eagles music gives me butterflys. and i will definatly stick to the classics :D
- meagan, baton rouge, LA

and i agree with kevin from grand prairie texas that pop and rap do need to be outlawed and that if you dont write the music or at least play an instrument it shouldnt be considered msuic i mean please its not talent to just talk about sex, drugs, and "gangstas"(rap)and well some pop "artists" can sing and maybe dance but that means nothing and the music businesses are just bringing anybody into music these days not that i have been around for more than 15 years but its rediculous. i have no idea when they decided that these people have "talent" it saddens me and non of eagles songs could be "over" played but htey can be played alot just my opinion well theory actually hehe :)
- meagan, baton rouge, LA