Eagles hotel california meaning of the song. The hit song is actually an examination of the pitfalls of living within southern california in the tumultuous 1970s. While there have been many theories that contemplate what the song represents the eagles band members have revealed in multiple interviews that the true meaning behind hotel california is a commentary on the hedonism and self indulgence of america. There are two choruses in the song and each mention the hotel california around the time the song was written california was experiencing the highest divorce rate in the nation.
In the case of hotel california it means enough that the song is played on american radio every 11 minutes. Despite popular belief the eagles have confirmed that hotel california actually has nothing to do with satanism psychiatric hospitals or cocaine addictions. Its lyrically vivid descriptions of pink champagne shimmering lights dark desert highways and voices in the night conjure images of a journey that is superficially glamorous but hides something lurking and insidious.
Hotel california by the eagles has inspired more than its fair share of theories and discussion since its release in 1976. Each chorus has lines that remember his past marriage such a lovely place and his past lover such a lovely face. The california referred to on this track is both the famous west coast state specifically los angeles and a symbolism of american materialism.
It means enough that last year the eagles took time out from suing each other to issue. The hotel california represents the california high lifethe promise of the fame and fortune of the 70s that brought people to the statefrom an outsiders point of view it is attractive and draws people like a drughowever be carefulyou can check out anytime you want but you can never leaveonce there it is hard to escape.