Intro 1
Bm F#7 Aadd9 E9
Tabs: Capo 7th fret
G D Em7 F#7
Bm F#7 Aadd9 E9
Tabs: No capo
G D Em7 F#7
Verse 1
Bm
On a dark desert highway
F#7
Cool wind in my hair
Aadd9
Warm smell of colitas
E9
Rising up through the air
G
Up ahead in the distance
D
I saw a shimmering light
Em7
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
F#7
I had to stop for the night
Bm
There she stood in the doorway
F#7
I heard the mission bell
Aadd9
And I was thinkin' to myself
E9
This could be heaven or this could be hell
G
Then she lit up a candle
D
And she showed me the way
Em7
There were voices down the corridor
F#7
I thought I heard them say
Chorus 1
G D
Welcome to the Hotel California
F#7
Such a lovely place (such a lovely place)
Bm7
Such a lovely face
G D
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Em7
Anytime of year (any time of year)
F#7
You can find it here
Verse 2
Bm
Her mind is Tiffany-twisted
F#7
She got the Mercedes bends, uh
Aadd9
She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys
E9
That she calls friends
G
How they dance in the courtyard
D
Sweet summer sweat
Em7
Some dance to remember
F#7
Some dance to forget
Bm
So I called up the Captain
F#7
"Please bring me my wine"
He said,
Aadd9
"We haven't had that spirit here since
E9
1969"
G
And still those voices are calling from
D
far away
Em7
Wake you up in the middle of the night
F#7
Just to hear them say, eh
Chorus 2
G D
Welcome to the Hotel California
F#7
Such a lovely place (such a lovely place)
Bm7
Such a lovely face
G D
They livin' it up at the Hotel California
Em7
What a nice surprise (what a nice surprise)
F#7
Bring your alibis
Verse 3
Bm
Mirrors on the ceiling
F#7
The pink champagne on ice
And she said,
Aadd9
"We are all just prisoners here
E9
of our own device"
G
And in the master's chambers
D
They gathered for the feast
Em7
They stab it with their steely knives
F#7
But they just can't kill the beast
Bm
Last thing I remember
F#7
I was running for the door
Aadd9
I had to find the passage back
E9
To the place I was before
G
"Relax", said the night man
D
"We are programmed to receive
Em7
You can check out any time you like
F#7
But you can never leave
Outro 1
Bm F#7 Aadd9 E9
G D Em7 F#7
Bm F#7 Aadd9 E9
G D Em7 F#7
Bm F#7 Aadd9 E9
G D Em7 F#7
Bm F#7 Aadd9 E9
G D Em7 F#7
Repeat and fade
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 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 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"
Intro 1
Bm F#7
E|-7---------------7----------------|-----------9----------------------| B|-7---------7----------------------|-------7-------7------------------| G|-7-----7-------7---------7---9----|-----9-------9--------------------| D|-9---9-------9--------------------|-8---------------8----------------| A|-9--------------------------------|----------------------------------| E|-7--------------------------------|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Aadd9 E9
E|-----------7----------------------|-----------------7----------------| B|-------10------10------10------7--|-----------7----------------------| G|-----9-------9-------9-------9----|-------7-------7------------------| D|-7---------------7----------------|-----9-------9--------------------| A|-------------------------7--------|-11-------------------------------| E|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
G D
E|-----------------7----------------|-----------10---------------------| B|-----------8-----------8----------|-------7-------7-------7-------7--| G|-------7-------7-------------7----|-----7---------------7------------| D|-----9-------9-----------7h9------|-7-----------7---------------7----| A|-10------------------10-----------|-----------------9----------------| E|----------------------------------|-------------------------10-------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Em7 F#7
E|-----------------7----------------|-----------------9----------------| B|-----------8---8---------------7--|-----------7----------------------| G|-------7---------------7----------|-------9-------9------------------| D|-----9-------9-------9-------9----|-----8-------8--------------------| A|-7--------------------------------|-9--------------------------------| E|-------------------------7--------|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Bm F#7
E|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| B|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| G|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| D|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| A|-5---------------7-------9--------|-7-----------5---4----------------| E|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Aadd9 E9
E|----------------------------------|-----------------0----------------| B|----------------------------------|---------0-----0------------------| G|----------------------------------|-------1-----1--------------------| D|----------------------------------|-----0-----0----------------------| A|-4---------------5-------7--------|---2------------------------------| E|----------------------------------|-0--------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
G D
E|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| B|----------------------------------|-----------------3----------------| G|----------------------------------|-----------------2-------2--------| D|----------------------------------|-----------------0-------4--------| A|-2---------------4-------5--------|-0---------------0----------------| E|----------------------------------|-2---------------2----------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Em7 F#7
E|---------0-------------0-------0--|-----------------0----------------| B|-------0---0---------0-------0----|-------0-------0------------------| G|-----0-------0-----2-------4------|-----3---3---3--------------------| D|-2-------------2-4-------5--------|---4-------4----------------------| A|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------|-2--------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Verse 1
Bm
On a dark desert highway
F#7
Cool wind in my hair
Aadd9
Warm smell of colitas
E9
Rising up through the air
G
Up ahead in the distance
D
I saw a shimmering light
Em7
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
F#7
I had to stop for the night
Bm
E|----------------------------------| B|----------------------------------| G|-7--------------------------------| D|-(9)------------------------------| A|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
F#7
E|----------------------------------| B|----------------------------------| G|-6--------------------------------| D|-(8)------------------------------| A|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
Aadd9
E|----------------------------------| B|----------------------------------| G|-6--------------------------------| D|-(7)------------------------------| A|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
E9
E|----------------------------------| B|----------------------------------| G|-4--------------------------------| D|-(6)------------------------------| A|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
G
E|----------------------------------| B|----------------------------------| G|-4--------------------------------| D|-(5)------------------------------| A|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
D
E|----------------------------------| B|----------------------------------| G|-2--------------------------------| D|-(4)---------------------4--------| A|-------------------------(5)------| E|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
Em7
E|----------------------------------| B|----------------------------------| G|----------------------------------| D|-5-----------------------8--------| A|-(7)---------------------(9)------| E|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
F#7
E|----------------------------------| B|----------------------------------| G|----------------------------------| D|-8--------------------------------| A|-(9)-----------------------1-2-4--| E|-------------------------2--------| 1 2 3 4
Chorus 1
G D
E|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| B|----------------------------------|-----1010--12--1014--12--10-------| G|----------------------------------|-----1111--12--1114--12--11-------| D|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| A|-5--------------------------------|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
F#7
lovely place (such a lovely place)
Bm7
E|----------------------------------| B|----------------------------------| G|----------------------------------| D|-------------------------2---4----| A|-2-------4-------5----------------| E|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
G D
E|----------------------------------|-------------------------------------| B|----------------------------------|--15---15----15----------12----------| G|----------------------------------|--14h1614h16-14----------12p11-------| D|-5--------------------------------|-----------------16--12--------------| A|----------------------------------|-------------------12----------------| E|----------------------------------|-------------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Em7
time of year (any time of year)
F#7
You can find it here
Verse 2
Bm
E|----------------------------------| B|----------------------------------| G|-7-----------------------9---9----| D|-(9)---------------------(11)(11)-| A|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
F#7
E|----------------------------------| B|----------------------------------| G|-6--------------------------------| D|-(8)------------------------------| A|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
Aadd9
E|----------------------------------| B|----------------------------------| G|-6--------------------------------| D|-(7)------------------------------| A|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
E9
E|----------------------------------| B|----------------------------------| G|-------------------------9---9----| D|-9-----------------------(11)(11)-| A|-(11)-----------------------------| E|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
G
E|----------------------------------| B|----------------------------------| G|----------------------------------| D|-9--------------------------------| A|-(10)-----------------------------| E|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
D
E|----------------------------------| B|----------------------------------| G|----------------------------------| D|-7-----------------------4--------| A|-(9)---------------------(5)------| E|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
Em7
E|----------------------------------| B|----------------------------------| G|-------------------------3--------| D|-5-----------------------(4)------| A|-(7)------------------------------| E|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
F#7
E|----------------------------------| B|----------------------------------| G|-3-----------3---4-------6--------| D|-(4)---------(4)-(5)-----(8)------| A|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
Bm
So I called up the Captain
F#7
"Please bring me my wine"
Aadd9
"We haven't had that spirit here since
E9
1969"
G
And still those voices are calling from
D
far away
Em7
Wake you up in the middle of the night
F#7
Just to hear them say, eh
Chorus 2
G
Welcome to the Hotel Califor
D
E|-------10-----------------9--------| B|----------------------10-----------| G|---------9-(9)7---9----------------| D|----------------7------------------| A|-----------------------------------| E|-----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
F#7
lovely place (such a lovely place)
Bm7
Such a lovely face
G
They livin' it up at the Hotel Cali for
D
E|-------------2222-------------------| B|-----22----------22(22)19-----------| G|---------------------------21--21---| D|------------------------------------| A|-------------------------21---------| E|------------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
Em7
nice surprise (what a nice surprise)
F#7
Bring your alibis
Verse 3
Bm
Mirrors on the ceiling
F#7
The pink champagne on ice
Aadd9
"We are all just prisoners here
E9
of our own device"
G
And in the master's chambers
D
They gathered for the feast
Em7
They stab it with their steely knives
F#7
But they just can't kill the beast
Bm
Last thing I remember
F#7
I was running for the door
Aadd9
I had to find the passage back
E9
To the place I was before
G
"Relax", said the night man
D
"We are programmed to receive
Em7
You can check out any time you like
F#7
E|-----------------------------------| B|-----------------------------10h12-| G|-------------------------11--------| D|-----------------------------------| A|-----------------------------------| E|-----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4
Outro 1
Bm F#7
E|----------------------------------|------------------------------------| B|-(12)--------1012------------7----|------------------------------------| G|-----------------9-------7h9---7--|---------4h7p4----------------------| D|----------------------------------|-8-------------7-----------(7)------| A|----------------------------------|------------------------------------| E|----------------------------------|------------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Aadd9 E9
E|----------------------------------|-----10------------------7---10---| B|-----7---------------7------------|-10----10--7-108-----------7------| G|-7h9---7---------7h9---7----------|----------------------------------| D|---------9p8-9-----------9p7-9-7--|----------------------------------| A|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
G D
E|-----10--10--7-----10-------------|-----10---------------------------| B|---------------10----10--8--------|----------------------------------| G|----------------------------------|-9-------9---7---7-6-7------------| D|----------------------------------|---------------7------------------| A|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Em7 F#7
E|----------------------------------|-----------7-----------------------| B|-----7---7---------7--7--7--------|---7-10--7-------------------------| G|-7h9---------9p7-9-----------9p7--|-9-----9----9-(9)7-9---------------| D|----------------------------------|-----------------------------------| A|----------------------------------|-----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------|-----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Bm F#7
E|-----------7-----------7-----------|----------------------------------| B|---7-10--7-----7-10--7-------------|----------------------------------| G|-9-----9-----9-----9----9-(9)7-9-7-|-9--------------------------------| D|-----------------------------------|----------------------------------| A|-----------------------------------|----------------------------------| E|-----------------------------------|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Aadd9 E9
E|-------------------------7--------|-----10---------------------------| B|-----------7---------10------107--|-1012----1211109------------------| G|-11------9---7--------------------|-----------------------------14---| D|-----------------9----------------|----------------------------------| A|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
G D
E|---------------------17-----------|---15161717-------------------------| B|-----12--15--171517----17--151715-|-17--------17----15----1517---17p15-| G|----------------------------------|------------------------------------| D|----------------------------------|------------------------------------| A|----------------------------------|------------------------------------| E|----------------------------------|------------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Em7 F#7
E|-------17--17---------------------|-------17--17------------9---7----| B|-17----------17--17------17--15---|-17----------17--17---------------| G|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| D|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| A|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Bm F#7
E|------------------10--10-----------|----------------------------------| B|-12-------------12--12-------------|-11-------------------------------| G|------------------------11p9h7-----|----------------------------------| D|------------------------------9-8--|----------------------------------| A|-----------------------------------|----------------------------------| E|-----------------------------------|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Aadd9 E9
E|-------------------------------------|----------------------------------| B|-17----17171717171717171717p15--1715-|-----------------------------10---| G|------------------------------16-----|-16------14----------14-----------| D|-------------------------------------|-----------1614121416-------------| A|-------------------------------------|----------------------------------| E|-------------------------------------|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
G D
E|-10--9----------------------------|-----14--12p10---------------------| B|---10----12--10-------------------|-----------------------------------| G|-------12--11----12---------------|-11-----------12--11----------11---| D|---------------12----12-----------|-----------------------------------| A|-------------------12--12109-1012-|-----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------|-----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Em7 F#7
E|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| B|-----------------10------12-------|-11----------14--15------17-------| G|-12----------12-------------------|----------------------------------| D|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| A|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Bm F#7
E|---------------------------------------|---------------------18--------------| B|-19p15--19p15--19p15--19p15--19p15-----|-17p14--17p14--17p14-----------------| G|------16-----16-----16-----16-----16---|------15-----15----------------------| D|---------------------------------------|-------------------------------------| A|---------------------------------------|-------------------------------------| E|---------------------------------------|-------------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Aadd9 E9
E|---------------------------------------|---------------------16--------------| B|-17p14--17p14--17p14--17p14--17p14-----|-15p12--15p12--15p12-----------------| G|------14-----14-----14-----14-----14---|------13-----13----------------------| D|---------------------------------------|-------------------------------------| A|---------------------------------------|-------------------------------------| E|---------------------------------------|-------------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
G D
E|---------------------------------------|-10----10----10---14--------------| B|-15p12--15p12--15p12--15p12--15p12-----|---10----10----10-----------------| G|------12-----12-----12-----12-----12---|-----11----11---------------------| D|---------------------------------------|----------------------------------| A|---------------------------------------|----------------------------------| E|---------------------------------------|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Em7 F#7
E|-7-----7-----7-----7-----7--------|-9-----9-----9----14--------------| B|---8-----8-----8-----8-----8------|---11----11----11-----------------| G|-----9-----9-----9-----9-----9----|-----11----11---------------------| D|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| A|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| E|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Traducción literaria al español — fiel al sentimiento del autor, no es cantable.
En una oscura carretera del desierto, el viento fresco en mi cabello
Cálido olor a collitas, elevándose por el aire
Más adelante en la distancia, vi una luz brillante
Mi cabeza se volvió pesada y mi vista se nubló
Tuve que detenerme por la noche
Ahí estaba ella en la puerta; escuché la campana de la misión
Traducción literaria al italiano — fiel al sentimiento del autor, no es cantable.
Su un'autostrada deserta e oscura, vento fresco tra i miei capelli
Caldo odore di collitas, che sale nell'aria
Più avanti in lontananza, ho visto una luce scintillante
La mia testa si fece pesante e la vista si offuscò
Dovevo fermarmi per la notte
Lì stava lei sulla soglia; ho sentito la campana della missione
Traducción literaria al portugués — fiel al sentimiento del autor, no es cantable.
Numa estrada deserta e escura, vento fresco no meu cabelo
Cheiro quente de collitas, subindo pelo ar
Mais à frente na distância, vi uma luz cintilante
Minha cabeça ficou pesada e minha visão ficou turva
Eu tive que parar para a noite
Lá estava ela na porta; ouvi o sino da missão
From the album
Hotel California
Eagles · 1976 · Track 1
The story behind
Eagles released «Hotel California» as a single on February 22, 1977, under the Asylum Records label. The song was written by Don Felder and Glenn Frey, and produced by Bill Szymczyk. It has a running time of 6:08 in its single version —although the version registered on MusicBrainz reaches 6:50— and its B-side was «Pretty Maids All in a Row». The single is part of the eponymous album Hotel California, recorded at Criteria Studios in Miami. The album Hotel California is the fifth studio album by the American rock band Eagles, released on December 8, 1976. It marked a transition in the band's lineup: it was the first without founding member Bernie Leadon and the first to feature Joe Walsh. Since its release, the record has sold more than 26 million copies in the United States alone, making it the band's best-selling studio album, and has surpassed 42 million units worldwide. It held the number one sales position for eight non-consecutive weeks between late 1976 and early 1977. The album included two singles that reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100: «New Kid in Town», on February 26, 1977, and «Hotel California» itself, on May 7, 1977. The latter received the Grammy Award for Record of the Year. In 2001, the cable television network VH1 nominated the album as the thirty-eighth greatest of all time. In a separate poll, the British network Channel 4 placed it at number 95 on its list of the 100 greatest albums in history. In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine ranked it at number 37 on its special list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. Thematically, the album addresses subjects such as innocence and its loss, drug addiction, death, dangers and temptations, the ephemeral nature of fame, turbulent relationships, divorces, the loss of love, the consequences of the Doctrine of Manifest Destiny, and the «American Dream». The band members themselves described the record as a metaphor for their perception of America's decline into materialism and decadence. In an interview with the Dutch magazine ZigZag, conducted shortly before the album's release, Don Henley spoke to that vision. For his part, Glenn Frey discussed the final track, «The Last Resort», in the Hotel California episode of the program In the Studio with Redbeard, describing the song as a portrait of the death of society. The album's cover image corresponds to the Beverly Hills Hotel. Numerous hotels in different parts of the world have claimed to have served as inspiration for the song, most notably the «Hotel California» located in Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, Mexico. As for its reach on digital platforms, the song has more than 1,257,864 listeners and approximately 7,923,973 plays registered on Last.fm.