每個人都有自己特別喜愛的歌詞，可能因為其詞藻優美，又或故事動人，也可能是意境抒情。我們喜歡將歌詞抄抄寫寫，甚至背得琅琅上口，但鮮有很認真地研究一首歌詞背後的喻意和創作背景，甚至真的去尋找歌詞所描寫的事物是否真的發生過，存在過。

可能你認為只是一首歌詞而已，但你可知道一首經典的歌詞，絕不遜於一本書或一首詩？對歌詞作嚴肅和深入的研究是大有人在呢。

Hotel California是Eagles的經典名曲，其歌詞講述主角走進了一間詭異的酒店，晚上看見住客狂歡跳舞，殺生祭祀，又自謔是囚犯，終身困在酒店中。主角見勢色不對，欲check out離開，但得到的答案竟是：

'Relax' said the nightman, We are programed to recieve. 

You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave!

歌詞本身所描述的已是一個詭秘的故事，令人毛骨聳然。歌詞背後更撩起很多揣測。

有說歌詞是喻意毒品禍害，酒店其實是代表毒品，表示人一旦染上，不能退出。

有說該酒店是一間在現實中存在的瘋人院，並有確實地址云云。

有說它是關於人沉迷享受，盲目追求奢華的自困之情。

有說它是關於魔鬼的，就如傳說中不少搖滾樂都與拜魔鬼有關。

外國人對歌詞的認真，令我嘆為觀止。請參考這網頁，看看當中歌迷的討論便略知一二。

(到網頁後，用ctrl+f，輸入 "hotel california")

其唱片封面也傳聞怕攝到魔鬼影像(參考網頁)

(請將喇叭音量調高)

歌詞：

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 place) 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 Benz She's 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 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 nightman, We are programed to recieve.
 You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave