I think the song is metaphorical, but something that can be made sense of. The Hotel California represents the California high-life...the promise of the fame and fortune of the 70s that brought people to the state...from an outsiders point of view, it is attractive and draws people (like a drug)...however, be careful..."you can check out anytime you want, but you can never leave"...once there, it is hard to escape. Henley didn't literally mean California...he meant the trappings of "ego" ....the mind state of being absorbed by pleasures and the "self"...as they can never bring true happiness.
No doubt it's a metaphor. What else can it possibly be? But then, lo and behold, I've actually visited a small business establishment in Southern California called Hotel California. Go figure.
No doubt it's a metaphor. What else can it possibly be? But then, lo and behold, I've actually visited a small business establishment in Southern California called Hotel California. Go figure.
Yes, but it means different things on different levels. At the beginning, there is there is the guy driving towards LA (as stated by Henley and Frey in interviews), and he smell Colitas, dried Marijuana seeds, and sees the lights in the distance. LA has a lovely face, and is "Tiffany-twisted". Later, we hear that "We haven't had that spirit hear since 1969". Henley said that this is a reference to cool music and Woodstock. The spirit of good music died at the end of 69, and the disco era was now here. The LA hedonism circuit, which leads to...
Yes, but it means different things on different levels. At the beginning, there is there is the guy driving towards LA (as stated by Henley and Frey in interviews), and he smell Colitas, dried Marijuana seeds, and sees the lights in the distance. LA has a lovely face, and is "Tiffany-twisted". Later, we hear that "We haven't had that spirit hear since 1969". Henley said that this is a reference to cool music and Woodstock. The spirit of good music died at the end of 69, and the disco era was now here. The LA hedonism circuit, which leads to destruction, which is also reprised in 'Fast Lane, also extends to that life anywhere at any time. Then there's a bunch o' stuff which I am too lazy to write about.
S
I think "check out" is more than literally trying to get out and failing...this is slang for dropping out, becoming uninvolved, especially from society or other larger concerns, and perhaps with a hint of doing so with drugs, although it can certainly happen in many other contexts. All things that laid-back Californians are often accused of doing. This is one of the Eagle's many subtle double-entendres (one of my other favorites being Life in the Fast Lane's "he was too tired to make it"
I think "check out" is more than literally trying to get out and failing...this is slang for dropping out, becoming uninvolved, especially from society or other larger concerns, and perhaps with a hint of doing so with drugs, although it can certainly happen in many other contexts. All things that laid-back Californians are often accused of doing. This is one of the Eagle's many subtle double-entendres (one of my other favorites being Life in the Fast Lane's "he was too tired to make it"
I think the song is metaphorical, but something that can be made sense of. The Hotel California represents the California high-life...the promise of the fame and fortune of the 70s that brought people to the state...from an outsiders point of view, it is attractive and draws people (like a drug)...however, be careful..."you can check out anytime you want, but you can never leave"...once there, it is hard to escape. Henley didn't literally mean California...he meant the trappings of "ego" ....the mind state of being absorbed by pleasures and the "self"...as they can never bring true happiness.
No doubt it's a metaphor. What else can it possibly be? But then, lo and behold, I've actually visited a small business establishment in Southern California called Hotel California. Go figure.
No doubt it's a metaphor. What else can it possibly be? But then, lo and behold, I've actually visited a small business establishment in Southern California called Hotel California. Go figure.
Yes, but it means different things on different levels. At the beginning, there is there is the guy driving towards LA (as stated by Henley and Frey in interviews), and he smell Colitas, dried Marijuana seeds, and sees the lights in the distance. LA has a lovely face, and is "Tiffany-twisted". Later, we hear that "We haven't had that spirit hear since 1969". Henley said that this is a reference to cool music and Woodstock. The spirit of good music died at the end of 69, and the disco era was now here. The LA hedonism circuit, which leads to...
Yes, but it means different things on different levels. At the beginning, there is there is the guy driving towards LA (as stated by Henley and Frey in interviews), and he smell Colitas, dried Marijuana seeds, and sees the lights in the distance. LA has a lovely face, and is "Tiffany-twisted". Later, we hear that "We haven't had that spirit hear since 1969". Henley said that this is a reference to cool music and Woodstock. The spirit of good music died at the end of 69, and the disco era was now here. The LA hedonism circuit, which leads to destruction, which is also reprised in 'Fast Lane, also extends to that life anywhere at any time. Then there's a bunch o' stuff which I am too lazy to write about. S
I think "check out" is more than literally trying to get out and failing...this is slang for dropping out, becoming uninvolved, especially from society or other larger concerns, and perhaps with a hint of doing so with drugs, although it can certainly happen in many other contexts. All things that laid-back Californians are often accused of doing. This is one of the Eagle's many subtle double-entendres (one of my other favorites being Life in the Fast Lane's "he was too tired to make it"
I think "check out" is more than literally trying to get out and failing...this is slang for dropping out, becoming uninvolved, especially from society or other larger concerns, and perhaps with a hint of doing so with drugs, although it can certainly happen in many other contexts. All things that laid-back Californians are often accused of doing. This is one of the Eagle's many subtle double-entendres (one of my other favorites being Life in the Fast Lane's "he was too tired to make it"
You got my vote!
You got my vote!