![hotel california lyrics meaning hotel california lyrics meaning](https://0701.static.prezi.com/preview/v2/y3vo3om4h7pwy6ghd7sgncs3et6jc3sachvcdoaizecfr3dnitcq_3_0.png)
It's basically a theory of literary interpretation that says that what the author (artist, etc.) says after a piece is published (or even before) should have no affect on how you perceive it. I've always took that to mean that he was expressing a fear that, while he could leave LA/recording industry, with his innocence will be lost he won't be able to regain the feel of wind in his hair, or the smell of desert flowers. The singer then tries to escape but while he can check out, he'll never be able to leave. It's a disturbing interpretation of living where any desire can be satisfied, where "anytime of year, you can find it here." The imagery in the hotel is of general decadence, with "pretty, pretty boys", pink champagne, mirrors on the ceiling and of course that gluttonous banquet at the end with a still-living beast for dinner. He gets tired (weakens?) and stops at the "Hotel". He begins in nature, in the desert, with the "wind in his hair" and the smell of colitas (a desert flower). I've always thought that it's about Don Henley (from a small town in Texas) feeling uneasy about the general debauchery of LA and the recording industry with drugs yes but not just drugs. All I ask is to keep an open mind and think of "The Hotel California" as L.A., and you may be surprised.
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I don't deny that drugs and addiction have a lot to do with the lifestyle and results of the quest for fame. Every song ties together in one big story, finishing off with the Last Resort which gives you a clear summery of the whole album and idea. I must admit, when I first heard this explaination, I was a little skeptical.but trust me.listen to the WHOLE album again, start to finish and keep this definition in mind when you do it. to strike it big with dreams of glamour and fame.and you basically are prepared to sell your soul of you have to to attain it. Just imagine the scene at the time, it's late 60's, you are on your way to L.A. Many times these artists were given little if anything for their music, and thus ended up basically a victom to their love of music. Back in the late sixties, 1969 to be exact, there was a major onslaught of artists being signed left, right and center, and artisit at the time were often known to basically "sell their soul" to a record company executive in order to get a recording contract. in the late sixties early seventies, when agents and studios controlled artists like puppets. The song and album take you on a trip though the music industry in L.A. According to the source, The "Hotel California" is actually, L.A. Don explained the story behind the song to him, and said he was amused at the wide varieties of interpretations the song had developed over time. It seems our prof had, at one time, lived in the California area and was very good friends with a certain drummer named Don Henley. I happened across this description from a guy whose college professor assigned them to interpret the lyrics: