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Subject: The meaning of "Hotel California"
Hi, does any body know the real meaning of the Eagles' "Hotel California" ?
Please let me know if there are several meanings and interpretations to that song...
Thanks
Al
Subject: Re: The meaning of "Hotel California"
The only explanation I have heard was that it was about dying. Don't know if that is right or not, but listen to the words, it fits. "You can check out anytime you like but you can never leave"
Subject: Re: The meaning of "Hotel California"
I always just thought it was about a hotel, in California. ???
Subject: Re: The meaning of "Hotel California"
Welcome Al!!!
Growing up during the 80s, one was subjected to alot of contraversial stuff, from backwards masking to hidden meanings in songs and what they really meant. I went to a christian school during my first 2 years of highschool and listened to many speaches that were given concerning rock and roll music as a medium for satanic and other occults teachings. I did remember that one of the sessions said that the Eagles song Hotel California was a song dedicated to a hotel brothel where people were converted and worshiped satan.
I did some hunting on the internet and found some sites that support the old accusations..
http://www.geocities.com/backmasking_2000/heavymetal.html
".....One of the top songs of the 70's was "Hotel California" by the Eagles. 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! Some of the lyrics: "And in the master's chambers, They are gathered for the feast, They stab it with their steely knives, but they just can't kill the beast." Inside the album, looking down on the festivities, is none other than Anton Lavey, the founder of the Church of Satan and author of the Satanic Bible! 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 Eagles's songs is titled "Have A Good Day in Hell."{ and of corse... album title Hell frezze Over}..."
Then it was thought that the Hotel California was actually in Todos Santos where it was also called "The mission". This website dispells that rumor.
http://www.todossantos-baja.com/todos-santos/eagles/hotel-california.htm
".......The hotel has had different names, that much is certain. Some say it was the Hotel California for a long time and then, in the late 70's early 80's, the Hotel Mission Todos Santos and then the Hotel California once again. Professor Nestor, of the Centro Cultural, used to have on display, a very old black and white photo of the hotel when it was called the Mission. Unfortunately the photo wasn't dated and it is no longer on display.
A man in town claims to have started the rumor that became legend, in the early 80's - and for purely selfish reasons. He says the town was so unknown, so lacking in tourists or business that he felt compelled to do something to stir things up. He was in the real estate business and there weren't any buyers around to sell to. So he says he dreamed the "Eagles" thing up right out of thin air. There weren't many takers for an urban legend either, but by the time the hotel's infamous ex-manager signed his 10-year lease in the late 80's, the legend had begun to grow. And this opportunistic manager had no qualms about furthering its reach. He told anyone who would listen that this indeed was the HOTEL CALIFORNIA. That the Eagles had stayed there. That Don Henley had written the song right here, while renting a room for $2/night, sleeping in a hammock. He knew because he claimed he had been here. And to further the effect, he blared the song over his barroom stereo into the streets. Why it had to be true, didn't it?..........."
I did some research but came up with alot of goose chases, :-[ but I hope that this does help in in your search for the truth :)
*** If I find out anything more I will add it on to this post
Subject: Re: The meaning of
I am getting a real chuckle out of this thread. I was living in Ohio when the song came out, and I thought there was some really cryptic meaning behind it also. The in 1982 I move to LA, and after only a couple of years in this wacky State it became crystal clear to me that the "Hotel California" was simply referring to California. You have to live here to understand. Believe me, you can check out anytime you'd like, but you can never leave.... once this state gets it's hooks in you, you can never go home again.... :'(
Subject: Re: The meaning of "Hotel California"
Hmm, Zella, now that I look at it, that does make sense. :)
Subject: Re: The meaning of "Hotel California"
All I know is that when you open up the album cover and see the picture of the band in the lobby, there is a demon hanging on the railing...and on the back cover with the empty lobby there's nothing there anymore. I sure wish I could ask Glenn Frey (My favorite solo Eagle) as he has a place in Aspen...not to far from me :)
Subject: Re: The meaning of "Hotel California"
Quoting:
http://www.geocities.com/backmasking_2000/heavymetal.html
".....One of the top songs of the 70's was "Hotel California" by the Eagles. 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! Some of the lyrics: "And in the master's chambers, They are gathered for the feast, They stab it with their steely knives, but they just can't kill the beast." Inside the album, looking down on the festivities, is none other than Anton Lavey, the founder of the Church of Satan and author of the Satanic Bible! 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 Eagles's songs is titled "Have A Good Day in Hell."{ and of corse... album title Hell frezze Over}..."
End Quote
I just visited that site. What a complete load of crap.
Subject: Re: The meaning of "Hotel California"
Quoting:
I just visited that site. What a complete load of crap.
End Quote
Do a little research on your own Gore and you will find alot of references to this. I'm not saying I agree with the whole satanic thing, I was just pointing out what I found.
Sorry Zella I do dissagree with you, there is more than just references to Cali, I lived outside of LA for 3 years with my cousins in Ventura and saw some Crazy crap (for some reason ESPECIALLY near Van Nuys BVLD) ;) but no where near the stuff the Eagles were singing about and I like the song.. I thought they were refering to something more in the cult side of things. During the 70s there was alot of cults in the publics eye, the Moonies, Rev. Jim Jones etc.
Subject: Re: The meaning of "Hotel California"
I just saw the whole song as being symbolic references to all the crazyness of CA; the movie industry etc.
Subject: Re: The meaning of "Hotel California"
Quoting:
Do a little research on your own Gore and you will find alot of references to this. I'm not saying I agree with the whole satanic thing, I was just pointing out what I found.
End Quote
That I realise. On another page of that site there's an essay that suggests that the Beatles and the Rolling Stones were a plot conceived by Satanic initiates in the music industry to corrupt youth. "Hotel California" is a song with particularly esoteric lyrical content that could mean just about anything. Artistic expression has always been accused by religious groups as being Satanic; by its very nature it encourages thought and imagination that some would suggest to be depraved or deviant when it exists beyond what would be considered religious guidelines. In any case, it's interesting that this site calls Black Sabbath's 'N.I.B.' one of the most Satanic songs ever written and yet completely fails to mention the song 'Black Sabbath' itself, or the pro-Christian 'After Forever' that appeared on their third album (alongside, it must be said, songs about drugs, nuclear war and environmental degradation ;D). My point is that manipulating the 'evidence' can help you prove just about anything. If you really want to prove a point, you have to examine all the evidence, not just the parts that aid your own argument.
Subject: Re: The meaning of "Hotel California"
Quoting:
I just visited that site. What a complete load of crap.
End Quote
Well, after reading the line "One of the most popular groups in rock history is Slayer." I'd have to agree with you. I listened to Slayer, but they were certainly not one of THE most popular groups in rock, maybe one of the 1000 most popular groups.
Subject: Re: The meaning of "Hotel California"
Quoting:
Well, after reading the line "One of the most popular groups in rock history is Slayer." I'd have to agree with you. I listened to Slayer, but they were certainly not one of THE most popular groups in rock, maybe one of the 1000 most popular groups.
End Quote
Slayer is one of the most popular groups in history?? That is a load of cr*p. I can name quite a few bands that would rank better than them.
Subject: Re: The meaning of "Hotel California"
Quoting:
Slayer is one of the most popular groups in history?? That is a load of cr*p. I can name quite a few bands that would rank better than them.
End Quote
Exactly my point. We could all name hundreds of bands that would rank higher than Slayer in popularity.
Subject: Re: The meaning of "Hotel California"
I spent a lot of time reading about this and listening to this over and over backwards. The song does have a strage, dark, and erie tone if played backwards, but I cannot find anything intelligible in the lyrics. I think this is a case of people listening for something they want to hear but simply isn't there. Probably this started from fanatical christian groups who think all rock songs are satanic.
The words (or similar) "oh Satan he organized his own religion which he puts in a vat for his son" cannot be heard clearly, even if you know what to expect, and where to expect it. When you think about it, this phrase sounds satanic, but it doesn't make any sense. Why would Satan put his religion in a vat or a vet?
I challenge any proponents of the Satan theory to listen to the song backwards themselves, and ask themselves if they can really hear anything.
I have tried doing this with several recordings of the song - in case some versions didn't have it.
If it hasn't been posted here, "warm smell of colitas" is pot. and "Tiffany Twisted" is generally accepted to refer to expensive glassware - but I am think that is wrong. The lyrics also say "programmed to recieve" instead of the commonly quoted "programmed to decieve". I think there are enough clues in the forward lyrics no one has figured out yet. I still think this song refers to California itself - which fits much better with the rest of tracks on the album.
Subject: Re: The meaning of "Hotel California"
Ive always thought that Hotel California was more about drug (most likely Heroein) addiction.
"This could be heaven or this could be hell"-the two sides of addiction.
"What a lovely place"-referring to a state of being high
"Just cant kill the beast"-the "beast" also refers to addiction
"You can check out any time you would like, but you can never leave"-once addicted, always addicted, relapse can happen very easily.
Subject: Re: The meaning of "Hotel California"
The song IS about the church of Satan. I've also heard it played backwards, and it DOES say, "Satan organized his own religion". At one point the singer asks for wine. The response he gets is, "We haven't had that spirit here since 1969". Wine is a symbol of the blood of Christ; 1969 was the year the satanic bible was released. It IS a satanic song. However, "colitas" does not refer to pot, but foxtail.
Subject: "Hotel California" PARODY
To hear a parody of "Hotel California": www.apologetix.com/audio/JCMS-hotel.mp3
Subject: Re: The meaning of "Hotel California"
The song is about him dying and going to hell. The spirits in the courtyard are lost souls. At the begining when it says"My head grew heavy and my site grew dim..." He's saying he's tired but really he's passing out.This is because he was drinking thats why he says"the warm smell of coolitas rising up through the air..." He goes on to say "I saw a shimmering light..."He's talking about dying. Its just about him dying and going to hell and trying to leave.In the end he finds out he can't.
Subject: Re: The meaning of "Hotel California"
I heard it was also about drug addiction, and not being able to quit.
But my cousin kind of freaked me out when he mention to me some time ago that it might have something to do with satan worship. that was weird.
Subject: Re: The meaning of "Hotel California"
I have to comment here. I appreciated the Eagles for a lot of their music, I've heard it for years and don't listen to it much any more since it's already been heard enough. Their music was mostly pleasant and light sounding, Hotel California was a anomoly and I have to confess that I never liked it, it's a long way from Peacful, Easy Feeling and Life in the Fast Lane.
Subject: Re: The meaning of "Hotel California"
i heard (not seen it myself) the image of Anton Szandor LaVey is some on the cover, just behind some pillar....
does anyone has the cd to check that?
Subject: Re: The meaning of "Hotel California"
Quoting:
i heard (not seen it myself) the image of Anton Szandor LaVey is some on the cover, just behind some pillar....
does anyone has the cd to check that?
End Quote
On the inside cover of the album you will see a party scene. Towards the top of the picture there are 3 windows; Lavey is in the middle window.
Subject: Re: The meaning of
This tune was left open to interpretation. Don Henly did state in a VH1 interview to have been inspired by the excesses the band experienced in different aspects. That's all folks. :)
Hotel California
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 dimmer
I had to stop for the night
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
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)
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Any time of year, you can find it here
Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes bends
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
So I called up the captain,
'Please bring me my wine'
He said, 'We haven't had that spirit here since nineteen sixty nine'
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 face)
They livin' it up at the Hotel California
What a nice surprise, bring your alibis
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
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.