One of the most mysterious and widely speculated songs in rock history, “Hotel California” is best described in the words of its creators. As Don Henley explained in the Daily Mail dated 9/11/2007:

Some of… Read More [Verse 1]

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

[Verse 2]

There she stood in the doorway

I heard the mission bell

And I was thinkin' to myself

"This could be Heaven or this could be Hell"

Then she lit up a candle

And she showed me the way

There were voices down the corridor

I thought I heard them say

[Chorus]

"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"

[Verse 3]

Her mind is Tiffany-twisted

She got the Mercedes Benz, uh

She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys

That she calls friends

How they dance in the courtyard

Sweet summer sweat

Some dance to remember

Some dance to forget

[Verse 4]

So I called up the Captain

"Please bring me my wine"

He said, "We haven't had that spirit here

Since 1969"

And still those voices are callin'

From far away

Wake you up in the middle of the night

Just to hear them say

[Chorus]

"Welcome to the Hotel California

Such a lovely place (Such a lovely place)

Such a lovely face

They livin' it up at the Hotel California

What a nice surprise (What a nice surprise)

Bring your alibis"

[Verse 5]

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

[Verse 6]

Last thing I remember, I was

Running for the door

I had to find the passage back

To the place I was before

"Relax," said the night man

"We are programmed to receive

You can check out any time you like

But you can never leave"

[Guitar Solo]