It sounds like a bunch of phrases thrown together with a beautiful instrumental while it’s playing. But this is my meaning of The Eagles – Hotel California.
It’s not about a fun loving place to go in California but it’s describing a mindset that is escaping reality. Addiction is the main subject.
On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air (shows you a mental image of your path)
Up ahead in the distance, I saw shimmering light
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
I had to stop for the night
There she stood in the doorway; (she is a beautiful drug or substance to fall in love with)
I heard the mission bell
And I was thinking to myself,
‘This could be Heaven or this could be Hell’ (dwelling on the good and the bad and deciding on trying it.)
Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way (taught him to get high)
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) (A place or mindset you go to, to get high)
Such a lovely face
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Any time of year (Any time of year)
You can find it here
Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, (crazy) she got the Mercedes Benz
She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys she calls friends (she has plenty of dealers and “Johns” -hoe life forever)
How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat.
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget. (Sweaty drugs and dancing is enjoyment of the high)
So I called up the Captain, (drug dealer)
‘Please bring me my wine’ (bring me my drug of choice)
He said, ‘We haven’t had that spirit here since nineteen sixty nine’ (best clientele for the dealer)
And still those voices are calling from far away, (the craving)
Wake you up in the middle of the night (craving)
Just to hear them say…Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place (Such a lovely place)
Such a lovely face
They livin’ it up at the Hotel California
What a nice surprise (what a nice surprise)
Bring your alibis. (Make up lies to have people not know your business)
Mirrors on the ceiling,
The pink champagne on ice
And she said ‘We are all just prisoners here, of our own device’ (we each have our own problems, drugs & how they are done; smoking or shooting)
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. (Gather with others alike, shoot up but not enough drugs or chasing that first high)
Last thing I remember, I was
Running for the door
I had to find the passage back
To the place I was before (Trying to go back before you used)
‘Relax, ‘ said the night man,
‘We are programmed to receive.
You can check-out any time you like,
But you can never leave! (Addiction doesn’t leave you. You can quit but you’re going to crave it)
Being Better Than Yesterday. 
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