Hotel California by the Eagles is often interpreted as an allegorical tale about the excess and decadence of California culture in the 70s. However, band members have stated that the lyrics have multiple meanings, including a critique of materialism and the loss of innocence.
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On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
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Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air
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Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light
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My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim, I had to stop for the night
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There she stood in the door way, I heard the mission bell
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And I was thinking to myself this could heaven or this could be hell
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Then she lit up a candle, and she showed me the way
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There were voices down in the corridor, I thought I heard them say
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Welcome to the Hotel California
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Such a lovely place (such a lovely place), such a lovely face
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They're living it up in the Hotel California
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Anytime of year (anytime of year) you can find it here
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Her mind was tiffany twisted, she got the mercedes benz...uh...
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She had a lot of pretty, pretty boys, who she calls friends
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How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat
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Some dance to remember, some dance to forget
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So I called up the captain, pleeeease bring me my wine...he said
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We haven't had that spirit here since 1969
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And still those voices are calling from faaaaaaaar awaaaaaay
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Wake you up in the middle of the night, just to hear them say
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Welcome to the Hotel California
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Such a lovely place (such a lovely place), such a lovely face
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They're living it up at the Hotel California
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Anytime of year (anytime of year) you can find it here
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Mirrors on the ceiling, the pink champaign on ice...and she said
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We are all just prisoners here of our own device
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And in the master's chambers, they gathered for their feast
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They stab it with their steely knives but they just can't kill the beast
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Last thing I remember, I was running for the door
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I had to find the passage back to the place I was before
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Relax said the night man, we are programmed to receive
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You can check out anytime you'd like, but you can't never leave