Hotel California

	  		This first part is the intro. It is repeated throughout the song 
(except during the Chorus). 
 
GUITAR 1 (12-string electric, ) 
A 7 means open string, so it is easier to read. 
These are easier if you realize that the chords they outline are: 
Em	B7	Dsus2	E9	C	G	Am7	B7 
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
   +       +       +       +         +       +       +       + 
e:-7---------------7---------------|-----------9---------------------| 
B:-7---------7-------------7---7---|-------7-------7-----------------| 
G:-7-----7-------7---------7---9---|-----9-------9-------------------| 
D:-9---9---9---9-------------------|-8---------------8---------------| 
A:-9-------------------------------|---------9-----------------------| 
E:-7-------------------------------|---------------------------------| 
 
 
   +        +        +        +         +        +        +       + 
e:-------------7----------------------|------7---7--------7--------------| 
B:-------10-10----10-------10-------7-|------------7---------------------| 
G:-----9-----------------9--------9---|--------7-----7-------------------| 
D:-7-----------------7----------------|----------------12----------------| 
A:----------------------------7-------|-11-------------------------------| 
E:------------------------------------|----------------------------------| 
 
 
   +        +       +        +         +        +       +       + 
e:------------------7----------------|-----10-----7----------------------| 
B:------------8------------8---------|--------7-------7-------7--------7-| 
G:--------7-------7--------------7---|----------7-----------7------------| 
D:------9---9---9------------7h9-----|-7------------7----------------7---| 
A:-10-------------------10-----------|------------------9----------------| 
E:-----------------------------------|--------------------------10-------| 
 
 
   +       +       +       +         +       +       +       + 
e:-----------------7-------------7-|-----------------9---------------| 
B:-----------8---8-----------------|-----------7---------------------| 
G:-------7---------------7---------|-------9-9-----9-----------------| 
D:-----9---9---9-------9-------9---|-----8-------8-------------------| 
A:-7-------------------------------|-9-------------------------------| 
E:-------------------------7-------|---------------------------------| 
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
This next part joins the intro on its first repeat. 
 
GUITAR 2 (six-string acoustic) 
 
   +   +   +   +     +   +   +   +     +   +   +   +     +   +   +   + 
e:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| 
B:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| 
G:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| 
D:-0-------2---4---|-2-----0---------|---------0---2---|-----------------| 
A:-----------------|---------4-------|-4---------------|-2~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-| 
E:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| 
 
 
   +   +   +   +     +   +   +   +     +   +   +   +     +   +   +   + 
e:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| 
B:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| 
G:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| 
D:-------------0---|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| 
A:-2-------4-------|-0-------7/9-----|-7-------9---10--|-9~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-| 
E:-----------------|-2---------------|-----------------|-----------------| 
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
In all, Don Felder, Joe Walsh and Glenn Frey managed to fit eight different 
guitars in for this song. GUITAR 3 plays the cool "chicka" chords you hear 
during the verses.  Listen closely and you can pick this part out.  Use 
fret-hand muting on the following chords to get the percussive sound.  In 
other words, don't push the strings down on the fretboard, just touch the 
strings so they can't vibrate much.  In addition, palm-mute them to give a 
sharper sound. 
 
GUITAR 3 (slightly distorted electric, palm-muted) 
 
    On a dark desert high-way           cool wind in my hair 
 
E---7--7-----7--7-----7--7----7--7--|--2--2----2--2-----2--2-----2--2--| 
B---7--7-----7--7-----7--7----7--7--|--2--2----2--2-----2--2-----2--2--| 
G---7--7-----7--7-----7--7----7--7--|--3--3----3--3-----3--3-----3--3--| 
D---9--9-----9--9-----9--9----9--9--|--4--4----4--4-----4--4-----4--4--| 
A-----------------------------------|----------------------------------| 
E-----------------------------------|----------------------------------| 
 
    warm smell of co-li- tas            rising up in the air. 
       
E---5--5-----5--5-----5--5----5--5--|--7--7----7--7-----7--7-----7--7--| 
B---5--5-----5--5-----5--5----5--5--|--7--7----7--7-----7--7-----7--7--| 
G---6--6-----6--6-----6--6----6--6--|--7--7----7--7-----7--7-----7--7--| 
D---7--7-----7--7-----7--7----7--7--|--6--6----6--6-----6--6-----6--6--| 
A-----------------------------------|----------------------------------| 
E-----------------------------------|----------------------------------| 
 
    Up ahead in the dis-tance,          I saw a shimmering light. 
 
E---3--3-----3--3-----3--3-----3--3--|--2--2-----2--2-----2--2-----2--2--| 
B---3--3-----3--3-----3--3-----3--3--|--3--3-----3--3-----3--3-----3--3--| 
G---4--4-----4--4-----4--4-----4--4--|--2--2-----2--2-----2--2-----2--2--| 
D---5--5-----5--5-----5--5-----5--5--|--4--4-----4--4-----4--4-----4--4--| 
A------------------------------------|-----------------------------------| 
E------------------------------------|-----------------------------------| 
 
 My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim 
 
E---3--3-----3--3-----3--3-----3--3-----3--3--| 
B---5--5-----5--5-----5--5-----5--5-----5--5--| 
G---4--4-----4--4-----4--4-----4--4-----4--4--| 
D---5--5-----5--5-----5--5-----5--5-----5--5--| 
A---------------------------------------------| 
E---------------------------------------------| 
                                                                                 
  I had to stop for the night. 
 
E---2--2-----2--2-----2--2-----2--2--| 
B---2--2-----2--2-----2--2-----2--2--| 
G---3--3-----3--3-----3--3-----3--3--| 
D---4--4-----4--4-----4--4-----4--4--| 
A------------------------------------| 
E------------------------------------| 
                                                                             
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
GUITARS 4 and 5 (distorted electrics) play chord tones in 3rds 
during the verses.  GUITAR 4 plays upper voicing, GUITAR 5 plays 
the lower voicing.  All the while, the 12-string continues 
playing the intro chords. 
 
   There she stood...    I heard the...       And I was thinking.. 
E---------------------|--------------------|--------------------| 
B---------------------|--------------------|--------------------| 
G---7~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|--6~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|--6~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--| 
D---9~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|--8~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|--7~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--| 
A---------------------|--------------------|--------------------| 
E---------------------|--------------------|--------------------| 
                                                                                 
 ...heaven and this...  Then she lit up...    And she showed me... 
E---------------------|--------------------|---------------------| 
B---------------------|--------------------|---------------------| 
G---4~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|--4~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|--2~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~---| 
D---6~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|--5~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|--4~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~---| 
A---------------------|--------------------|---------------------| 
E---------------------|--------------------|---------------------| 
 
    There were voices down...  thought I heard them say. 
			       1 
E--------------------------|------------------------------------| 
B--------------------------|------------------------------------| 
G--------------------------|------------------------------------| 
D---4/5~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-----|--8^r-8~~~~~~~~~~~~--8--------------| 
A---5/7--------------------|--9^r-9~~~~~~~~~~~~--9--------1-2-4-| 
E--------------------------|----------------------------2-------| 
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
This is the Chorus.  GUITAR 1 strums the following chords 
(instead of picking them): 
C	G	B7	Em 
C	G	Am	B7 
GUITAR 4 & 5 play the following bit: 
 
Welcome to the 
     Hotel California 
E---------------------|---------------------------------------------| 
B---------------------|--10-----10--12-----10--12/14-----12-----10--| 
G---------------------|--11---------12-----11--12/14-----12-----11--| 
D---------------------|---------------------------------------------| 
A---5~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|---------------------------------------------| 
E---------------------|---------------------------------------------| 
 
... such a lovely face 
E---|--------------------------------------------------| 
B---|--------------------------------------------------| 
G---|--------------------------------------------------| 
D---|-----------------------------------------2-----4--| 
A---|--2~~~~~~~~~--4~~~~~~~~~---5----------------------| 
E---|--------------------------------------------------| 
 
    Plenty of room... 
E------------------------|-------------------------------------------| 
B------------------------|-----15--------15--15---------------12--10-| 
G------------------------|--14h16-----14h16--14-----------7---12--11-| 
D---5~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--|--------------------------16\7-------------| 
A------------------------|-------------------------------------------| 
E------------------------|-------------------------------------------| 
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
Back to another verse.  GUITAR 4 & 5 play 
this now (similar to part one with bends): 
 
 Her mind is Tiffany...      she got the Mercedes bends 
E------------------------|--------------------------------| 
B------------------------|--------------------------------| 
G---7~~~~~~~~~---9---9^--|--6--------------------6--------| 
D---9~~~~~~~~~--11--11^--|--8--------------------8--------| 
A------------------------|--------------------------------| 
E------------------------|--------------------------------| 
 
     She got a lot of pretty,...          That she calls friends 
E------------------------------------|----------------------------------| 
B------------------------------------|---------------------------5--5^--| 
G---6--------------------------------|--4~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--6--6^--| 
D---7--------------------------------|--6~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~---------| 
A------------------------------------|----------------------------------| 
E------------------------------------|----------------------------------| 
 
     How they dance in ...      sweet summer sweat 
E------------------------------|-------------------------------- 
B------------------------------|-------------------------------- 
G---4--------------------------|--2----------------------------- 
D---5--------------------------|--4--------------------------4/- 
A------------------------------|-----------------------------5/- 
E------------------------------|-------------------------------- 
 
      Some dance to remember                     Some dance to forget 
E---|------------------------------------------|----------------------------| 
B---|------------------------------------------|----------------------------| 
G---|------------------------------------------|-------------------------6--| 
D---|--5--------------------------------8^-----|--8~~~~~-----8----9------8--| 
A---|--7--------------------------------9^-----|--9~~~~~-----9----10--------| 
E---|------------------------------------------|----------------------------| 
                                                                             
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
 
Now, here's the reason for so many guitars.  On the "So I called up the Captain" 
verse, GUITAR 4 & 5 repeat the part from the last verse, while GUITAR 7 & 8 
(distorted electrics) introduce this "answer" harmony.  The 12-string is (still) 
playing the verse chords. 
 
     So I called up the Captain 
E---|-------------------14p13--14~~~~~~-----| 
B---|---------------15--15p14--15~~~~~~-----| 
G---|---------------16----------------------| 
D---|---------------------------------------| 
A---|---------------------------------------| 
E---|---------------------------------------| 
 
   Please bring me my wine           He said 
E---------------------14p13--14~~~~~~-----| 
B-----------------14--14p13--14~~~~~~-----| 
G-----------------15----------------------| 
D-----------------------------------------| 
A-----------------------------------------| 
E-----------------------------------------| 
 
   We haven't had that spirit here since 
E--------------------------12p11--12~~~~~~------| 
B----------------------14--14p13--14~~~~~~------| 
G----------------------14-----------------------| 
D-----------------------------------------------| 
A-----------------------------------------------| 
E-----------------------------------------------| 
 
    nine - teen six - ty nine 
E------------------------12p11--12~~~~~~-----| 
B--------------------12--12p11--12~~~~~~-----| 
G--------------------13----------------------| 
D--------------------------------------------| 
A--------------------------------------------| 
E--------------------------------------------| 
 
   And still those voices are calling from 
E------------------10p9---10~~~~~~-----| 
B--------------12--12p10--12~~~~~~-----| 
G--------------12----------------------| 
D--------------------------------------| 
A--------------------------------------| 
E--------------------------------------| 
 
   far   away 
E----------------10p9--10~~~~~~--| 
B------------10--10p9--10~~~~~~--| 
G------------11------------------| 
D--------------------------------| 
A--------------------------------| 
E--------------------------------| 
 
 
 Wake you up in the middle of the night                just to hear... 
E-----------------------------------------------|--------- 
B-----------------------12p10--12-------14^p12--|--14----- 
G-------------------12--12p11--12-------14^p12--|--15----- 
D-------------------14--------------------------|--------- 
A-----------------------------------------------|--------- 
E-----------------------------------------------|--------- 
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
GUITAR 4 & 5 have a new Chorus thing, 
GUITAR 1 plays Chorus chords. 
 
Welcome to the  
Hotel California                                          such a ... 
 
             rake----|                    pinch harmonics 
E------------------10--------------------10--9--------------| 
B----------------x--------------------10--------------------| 
G--------------x--------9^r7-------9^-----------------------| 
D------------x----------------------------------------------| 
A-----------------------------------------------------------| 
E-----------------------------------------------------------| 
 
Such a 
  lovely face          They're livin' it up at the Hotel California 
E----------------------|----------------- 
B----------------------|----------------- 
G----------------------|----------------- 
D----------------2--4--|-5~~~~~~~~~------ 
A---2----4----5--------|----------------- 
E----------------------|----------------- 
 
                                 pinch harmonics 
	    1		 1	   1 
E--------------22--22---------------------------------| 
B---------22^----------22^r19-------------------------| 
G--------------------------------21^-----21~~~~~~~~~--| 
D-----------------------------------------------------| 
A-----------------------------------------------------| 
E-----------------------------------------------------| 
                                                                             
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
The rest of the song repeats parts I've already tabbed.  If you've  
got the tape or CD, I suggest you listen to it while looking 
at the tab to find these parts. Now the solos.  These are tough, 
so practice a lot and look at the rhythm I have laid out so you 
can get a feel for how it's supposed to sound. 
 
GUITAR 7 
 
never leave.                      1 1/2 
   +     +     +      +         +       +         +       + 
e:----------------------------|-----------------------------------| 
B:--------------------10h12---|-12^---------10-12-------------7---| 
G:----------3//11-------------|-------------------9-------7-9---7-| 
D:----------------------------|-----------------------------------| 
A:----------------------------|-----------------------------------| 
E:----------------------------|-----------------------------------| 
 
 
                  slow bend and release 
                    1/2 
   +        +         +       +         +       +       +       + 
e:------------------------------------|---------------------------------| 
B:------------------------------------|-----7---------------7-----------| 
G:------------------------------------|-7h9---7---------7h9---7---------| 
D:-8--------9h12p9-7^~~~~~~~~~r\\\----|---------9p8-9-----------9p8-9p8-| 
A:------------------------------------|---------------------------------| 
E:------------------------------------|---------------------------------| 
 
 
     1 hold....       1/2            1 hold....       1       1      1 
   +          +        +       +            +       +       +          + 
e:--------10-------------------7---10^~~~~|~~~~-10--10^r~p7-----10--------------| 
B:-10^~~~~~~~~r-7-10-8^~~~~~~~---7--------|-----------------10^----10^r8---10-0-| 
G:----------------------------------------|-------------------------------------| 
D:----------------------------------------|-------------------------------------| 
A:----------------------------------------|-------------------------------------| 
E:----------------------------------------|-------------------------------------| 
 
 
    1       1                         all 1/2 step > > > > > > > 
   +       +       +       +         +       +        +       + 
e:-----10--------------------------|-----------------------------------| 
B:---------------------------------|-----7^--7^~r-------7^-7^-7^~r-----| 
G:-9^------9^r-7---7p6-7~~~~~~~~~--|-7h9----------9-7-9------------9p7-| 
D:---------------7-----------------|-----------------------------------| 
A:---------------------------------|-----------------------------------| 
E:---------------------------------|-----------------------------------| 
 
 
    1     1      1    1 
   +        +        +       + 
e:-----------------------------------| 
B:-----------------------------------| 
G:-9^----9^-----9^r7-9^~~~~~~~~~~----| 
D:-----------------------------------| 
A:-----------------------------------| 
E:-----------------------------------| 
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
Enter GUITAR 8, second soloist: 
 
                                            slow bend 
    1       1      1      1      1          1 hold.........slide up 
   +          +        +        +          +       +       +       + 
e:--------------7-------------7----------|---------------------------------| 
B:----7-10----7-7----7-7----7-7----------|---------------------------------| 
G:-9^------9^-----9^-----9^-----9^r7-9-7-|-9^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~////------------| 
D:---------------------------------------|---------------------------------| 
A:---------------------------------------|---------------------------------| 
E:---------------------------------------|---------------------------------| 
 
     1 1/2                  1 
   +        +         +         +          +           +          +       + 
e:------------------------------7--------|-------10-------------------------------| 
B:------------------------10^-------10-7-|-10h12----10-12-11-10-9~~~~~~~~~~~////--| 
G:-11^~~~~r-9-11-7-----------------------|----------------------------------------| 
D:--------------------9-0----------------|----------------------------------------| 
A:---------------------------------------|----------------------------------------| 
E:---------------------------------------|----------------------------------------| 
 
 
  slow bend 
     1        1/2         1 hold... 
   +        +           +         + 
e:----------------12----------17---------------| 
B:-------12-15^------15-17^-------17r-15-17-15-| 
G:-14^-----------------------------------------| 
D:---------------------------------------------| 
A:---------------------------------------------| 
E:---------------------------------------------| 
 
 
     1            1   1                           1 hold........    1       1 
   +            +          +       +            +       +         +       + 
e:-----15-16-17-17^---------------------------|-------17---17------------------------| 
B:-17^--------------17^r---15~~~~~-17---17p15-|-17^-----------17r-17^-----17^r-15----| 
G:--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------| 
D:--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------| 
A:--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------| 
E:--------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------| 
 
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
First soloist returns here. 
GUITAR 8: 
 
     1 hold........    1       1            1 
   +       +         +       +            +       +        +          + 
e:-------17---17------------------------|-17^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-------------------| 
B:-17^-----------17r-17^-----17^r-15-15-|--------------------------------------------| 
G:--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------| 
D:--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------| 
A:--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------| 
E:--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------| 
 
GUITAR 7: 
                               1        all 1 1/2 >> > > > > > > > > 
   +       +         +       +            +       +        +          + 
e:--------------------------------------|---------------------10---10----------------| 
B:---------------------------12^r-12-12-|-12^~~~~~~~~~~----12^--12^------------------| 
G:--------------------------------------|-----------------------------11\9\7---------| 
D:--------------------------------------|------------------------------------9---8---| 
A:--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------| 
E:--------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------| 
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
GUITAR 7: 
 
	   +       +       +        + 
	e:-6~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~------| 
	B:----------------------------------| 
	G:----------------------------------| 
	D:----------------------------------| 
	A:----------------------------------| 
	E:----------------------------------| 
 
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
back to GUITAR 8 
 
     1 grad. release................                                                 1 
   +         +           +           +		   +       +         +          + 
e:-12^-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12-12p10----12-10-|----------------------------------------| 
B:--------------------------------------12-------|-12------10-------------10--------------| 
G:-----------------------------------------------|------------11\9\7-9-11---------7-9^----| 
D:-----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------| 
A:-----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------| 
E:-----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------| 
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
Now, both play at the same time until end. 
 
GUITAR 8: 
   +           +           +          + 
e:-10--------------------------------------------| 
B:----10-14----12----10--------------------------| 
G:----------12----11-------12--------------------| 
D:----------------------12----9-12---------------| 
A:---------------------------------12\10\9-10/12-| 
E:-----------------------------------------------| 
 
GUITAR 7: 
   +           +           +          + 
e:-7---------------------------------------------| 
B:----7--10----7---------------------------------| 
G:----------------7--9-----7---------------------| 
D:----------7-----------9--------7---------------| 
A:----------------------------9----9\\7\5--7//9--| 
E:-----------------------------------------------| 
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
GUITAR 8: 
                       1 
   +           +           +         +           +     +     +     + 
e:-------14-10-12-10--------------------------|--------------------------| 
B:--------------------------------------------|--------------10----12----| 
G:-------------------12^r--11------------11---|--12-------12-------------| 
D:-12-----------------------------------------|--------------------------| 
A:--------------------------------------------|--------------------------| 
E:--------------------------------------------|--------------------------| 
 
GUITAR 7: 
e:-------7------------------------------------|--------------------------| 
B:----------7--10-7---------------------------|--5--------5--7-----8-----| 
G:-------------------9^r---7-------------7----|--------------------------| 
D:-7------------------------------------------|--------------------------| 
A:--------------------------------------------|--------------------------| 
E:--------------------------------------------|--------------------------| 
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
GUITAR 8: 
   +     +    +     + 
e:----------9-10----12----| 
B:-11---------------------| 
G:------------------------| 
D:------------------------| 
A:------------------------| 
E:------------------------| 
 
GUITAR 7: 
e:----------6-7-----9-----| 
B:-7----------------------| 
G:------------------------| 
D:------------------------| 
A:------------------------| 
E:------------------------| 
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
Since the top 3 strings are the only ones used for the final riff, 
that's all I'll show in the tab. Both parts will be shown, GUITAR 8 
plays high, GUITAR 7 plays low. 
 
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
GUITAR 7 
e-10----10----10----10----10------9-----9-----9----9/14------ 
B---12----12----12----12----12-----11----11----11------------ 
G-----11----11----11----11----11-----11----11---------------- 
 
GUITAR 8 
e-14----14----14----14-----14-----12----12----12--12/18------ 
B---15----15----15----15-----15-----14----14----14----------- 
G-----16----16----16----16-----16-----15----15--------------- 
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
GUITAR 7 
E--9-----9-----9-----9-----9------7-----7-----7----7/12------ 
B---10----10----10----10----10------9-----9-----9------------ 
G------9-----9-----9-----9-----9------9-----9---------------- 
 
GUITAR 8 
E-12----12----12----12-----12-----10----10----10--10/15------ 
B---14----14----14----14-----14-----12----12----12----------- 
G-----14----14----14----14-----14-----13----13--------------- 
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
GUITAR 7 
E-7------7------7-----7-----7-----5------5----5-----5/10----- 
B----8------8-----8-----8-----8------7-----7-----7----------- 
G------7------7-----7-----7-----7------7-----7--------------- 
 
GUITAR 8 
E-10----10----10----10-----10-----10----10----10--10/14------ 
B---12----12----12----12-----12-----10----10----10----------- 
G-----12----12----12----12-----12-----11----11--------------- 
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
GUITAR 7 
E--3-----3-----3-----3-----3------6-----6-----6----6/9------ 
B----5-----5-----5-----5-----5------7-----7-----7------------ 
G------4-----4-----4-----4-----4------8-----8---------------- 
 
GUITAR 8 
E--7-----7-----7-----7------7------9-----9-----9---9/14------ 
B----8-----8-----8-----8------8-----11----11----11----------- 
G------9-----9-----9-----9------9-----11----11--------------- 
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
Repeat and fade... 
 
Thanks to Robert Luna ([email protected]) 
 
 
Here are the lyrics: 
 
 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 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) 
 Such a lovely face 
 Plenty of room at the Hotel California 
 Any time of year (any time of year) 
 You can find it here 
 You can find it here 
 
 Her mind is Tiffany twisted 
 She's got the Mercedes bends 
 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 place) 
 Such a lovely face 
 They're livin' it up at the Hotel California 
 What a nice surprise  (what a nice surprise) 
 Bring your alibies 
 
 Mirrors on the ceiling 
 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