℗ 1976 Asylum Records AS 60509 / © Elektra Records
℗ 1993 Asylum Records EUR 253 051 / © BMG Music
The Eagles took 18 months between their fourth and fifth albums, reportedly spending eight months in the studio recording Hotel California. The album was also their first to be made without Bernie Leadon, who had given the band much of its country flavor, and with rock guitarist Joe Walsh. As a result, the album marks a major leap for the Eagles from their earlier work, as well as a stylistic shift toward mainstream rock. An even more important aspect, however, is the emergence of Don Henley as the band's dominant voice, both as a singer and a lyricist. On the six songs to which he contributes, Henley sketches a thematic statement that begins by using California as a metaphor for a dark, surreal world of dissipation; comments on the ephemeral nature of success and the attraction of excess; branches out into romantic disappointment; and finally sketches a broad, pessimistic history of America that borders on nihilism. Of course, the lyrics kick in some time after one has appreciated the album's music, which marks a peak in the Eagles' playing. Early on, the group couldn't rock convincingly, but the rhythm section of Henley and Meisner has finally solidified, and the electric guitar work of Don Felder and Joe Walsh has arena-rock heft. In the early part of their career, the Eagles never seemed to get a sound big enough for their ambitions; after changes in producer and personnel, as well as a noticeable growth in creativity, Hotel California unveiled what seemed almost like a whole new band. It was a band that could be bombastic, but also one that made music worthy of the later tag of "classic rock," music appropriate for the arenas and stadiums the band was playing. The result was the Eagles' biggest-selling regular album release, and one of the most successful rock albums ever. — William Ruhlmann. |
(Don Henley — Don Felder — Glenn Frey)
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 dim I had to stop for the night There she stood in the doorway I heard the mission bell And I was thinkin' 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 place) 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 She got the Mercedes Benz, uh 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 1969 And still those voices are callin' 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 place) Such a lovely face They livin' it up at the Hotel California What a nice surprise (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
(John David Souther — Don Henley — Glenn Frey)
There's talk on the street, it sounds so familiar Great expectations, everybody's watching you People you meet, they all seem to know you Even your old friends treat you like you're something new Johnny-come-lately, the new kid in town Everybody loves you, so don't let them down You look in her eyes, the music begins to play Hopeless romantics, here we go again But after a while, you're lookin' the other way It's those restless hearts that never mend (Oh) Johnny-come-lately, the new kid in town Will she still love you when you're not around? There's so many things you should have told her But night after night, you're willing to hold her, just hold her Tears on your shoulder There's talk on the street, it's there to remind you Doesn't really matter which side you're on You're walking away and they're talking behind you They will never forget you 'til somebody new comes along Where you've been lately? There's a new kid in town Everybody loves him, don't they? He's holding her and you're still around Oh, my, my There's a new kid in town Just another new kid in town (Ooh, hoo) Everybody's talking 'bout the (Ooh, hoo) New kid in town (Ooh, hoo) Everybody's walking like the (Ooh, hoo) New kid in town There's a new kid in town I don't want to hear it There's a new kid in town I don't want to hear it, ah-ooh There's a new kid in town There's a new kid in town There's a new kid in town Everybody's talking There's a new kid in town People started walking There's a new kid in town There's a new kid in town There's a new kid in town There's a new kid in town
(Joe Walsh — Don Henley — Glenn Frey)
He was a hard-headed man, he was brutally handsome And she was terminally pretty She held him up and he held her for ransom In the heart of the cold, cold city He had a nasty reputation as a cruel dude They said he was ruthless, they said he was crude They had one thing in common, they were good in bed She'd say, Faster, faster, the lights are turnin' red Life in the fast lane, surely make you lose your mind Life in the fast lane, huh Are you with me so far? Eager for action, hot for the game The coming attraction, the drop of a name They knew all the right people, they took all the right pills They threw outrageous parties, they paid heavenly bills There were lines on the mirror, lines on her face She pretended not to notice, she was caught up in the race Out every evening, until it was light He was too tired to make it, she was too tired to fight about it Life in the fast lane, surely make you lose your mind Life in the fast lane, huh Life in the fast lane, everything all the time Life in the fast lane, uh-huh Blowin' and burnin', blinded by thirst They didn't see the stop sign, took a turn for the worst She said, Listen, baby, you can hear the engine ring We've been up and down this highway, haven't seen a goddamn thing He said, Call the doctor, I think I'm gonna crash The doctor say he's comin', but you gotta pay in cash They went rushin' down that freeway, messed around and got lost They didn't care, they were just dyin' to get off and it was Life in the fast lane, surely make you lose your mind Life in the fast lane, uh-huh Life in the fast lane, everything all the time Life in the fast lane, uh-huh Life in the fast lane Life in the fast lane
(Don Henley — Glenn Frey)
Well, baby, there you stand With your little head down in your hand Oh, my God, you can't believe It's happening again Your baby's gone, and you're all alone And it looks like the end And you're back out on the street And you're trying to remember, oh How do you start it over? You don't know if you can You don't care much for a stranger's touch But you can't hold your man You never thought you'd be alone This far down the line And I know what's been on your mind You're afraid it's all been wasted time The autumn leaves have got you thinking About the first time that you fell, fell You didn't love the boy too much No, no, you just Loved the boy too well Farewell So you live from day to day And you dream about tomorrow, oh And the hours go by like minutes And the shadows come to stay So you take a little something To let them go away And I could've done so many things, baby If I could only stop my mind From wonderin' what I left behind And from worryin' 'bout this wasted time (Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) Another love has come and gone (Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh) And the years keep rushing on I remember what you told me Before you went out on your own Sometimes to keep it together We've got to leave it alone So you can get on with your search, baby And I can get on with mine And maybe someday we will find That it wasn't really wasted time
(Don Felder — John David Souther — Don Henley — Glenn Frey)
What kind of love have you got? You should be home, but you're not A room full of noise and dangerous boys Still makes you thirsty and hot I heard about you and that man There's just one thing I don't understand You say he's a liar and he put out your fire How come you still got his gun in your hand? Victim of love, I see a broken heart You got your stories to tell Victim of love, it's such an easy part And you know how to play it so well Some people never come clean Oh, I think you know what I mean, oh You're walkin' the wire, pain and desire Looking for love in between Tell me your secrets, I'll tell you mine A-this ain't no time to be cool And tell all your girlfriends, your been-around-the-world friends That talk is for losers and fools Victim of love, I see a broken heart I could be wrong, but I'm not, no, I'm not Victim of love, we're not so far apart Show me, what kind of love have you got? Victim of love, I see a broken heart I could be wrong, but I'm not Victim of love, we're not so far apart What kind of love have you got? Victim of love, you're just a victim of love I could be wrong, but I'm not, no, I'm not Victim of love, now you're a victim of love What kind of love have you got? What kind of love have you got? What kind of love have you got?
(Joe Walsh — Joe Vitale)
Hi there, how are you? It's been a long time Seems like we've come a long way My, but we learn so slow And heroes, they come and they go And leave us behind as if we're supposed to know Why Why Why do we give up our hearts to the past? And why must we grow up so fast? And all you wishing well fools with your fortunes Someone should send you a rose With love from a friend, it's nice to hear from you again And the storybook comes to a close Gone are the ribbons and bows Things to remember, places to go Pretty maids all in a row
(Randy Meisner)
When you're out there on your own Where your memories can find you Like a circle goes around You were lost until you found out What it all comes down to One by one the lonely feelings come Day by day they slowly fade away Ooh, the look was in her eyes You never know what might be found there She was dancing right in time And the moves she made so fine Like the music that surrounds her Should I stay or go? I really want to know Would I lose or win if I try and love again? Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, gonna try and love again Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, I'm gonna try and love again Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, gonna try and love Right or wrong, what's done is done It's only moments that you borrow But the thoughts will linger on Of the lady and her song When the sun comes up tomorrow Well, it might take years To see through all these tears Don't let go When you find it, you will know Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, gonna try and love again Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, gonna try and love again Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, gonna try and love again Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh Sometimes lose, sometimes win Sometimes you need a friend Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh-oh Gonna try Gonna try Gonna try, gonna try, gonna try, gonna try Gonna try, gonna try, gonna try, gonna try Gonna try, gonna try, gonna try, gonna try Gonna try, ooh-ooh Gonna try, gonna try, gonna try, gonna try Gonna try, gonna try, gonna try, gonna try Gonna try, gonna try, gonna try, gonna try Gonna try, ooh-ooh-ooh
(Don Henley — Glenn Frey)
She came from Providence One in Rhode Island Where the old world shadows hang Heavy in the air She packed her hopes and dreams Like a refugee Just as her father came Across the sea She heard about a place People were smiling They spoke about the red man's ways And how they loved the land And they came from everywhere To the Great Divide Seeking a place to stand Or a place to hide Down in the crowded bars Out for a good time Can't wait to tell you all What it's like up there And they called it paradise I don't know why Somebody laid the mountains low While the town got high And then the chilly winds blew down Across the desert Through the canyons of the coast To the Malibu Where the pretty people play Hungry for power To light their neon way And give them things to do Some rich men came and raped the land Nobody caught 'em Put up a bunch of ugly boxes And, Jesus, people bought 'em And they called it paradise The place to be They watched the hazy sun Sinking in the sea You can leave it all behind And sail to Lahaina Just like the missionaries did So many years ago They even brought a neon sign "Jesus is coming" They brought the white man's burden down Brought the white man's reign Who will provide the grand design? What is yours and what is mine? 'Cause there is no more new frontier But we have got to make it here We satisfy our endless needs And justify our bloody deeds In the name of destiny And in the name of God And you can see them there On Sunday morning And stand up and sing about What it's like up there They call it paradise I don't know why You call someplace paradise Kiss it goodbye