《加州旅馆》问世三十多年来，以其怪异的曲风，诡异晦涩的歌词，经典的吉他旋律，感人心弦的悲世情怀而经久不衰。人们曾试图寻找加州旅馆的原形，可是终究没有结果。老鹰乐队更是对此不置可否。好像应了那句“此曲只应天上有”，只不过《加州旅馆》不是来自天堂的声音，而更像是魔鬼撒旦的符咒。
在我看来，当然没有加州旅馆这个地方，Hotel California 不过是海洛因和可卡因的另类表达，如果这个假设成立，那些晦涩的歌词，诡异的场面就好理解了。歌词在一开始colitas的暗示，迷失的灵魂需要个地方安放。借酒消愁已经过时，We haven't had that spirit here since 1969；而此时魔鬼撒旦发出了第一个符咒：欢迎来到加州旅馆（Welcome to the hotel california）。而且是一年四季，供应充足；歌词的中段主要是描述吸毒之后的一些感受。比如，Such a lovely Place，Such a lovely face的美妙幻象，这时，魔鬼告诉你灵魂不过是躯体的囚徒，We are all just prisoners here, of our own device。歌词 的最后实际上是暗示一旦进入了 Hotel California，（粘上了毒瘾）就很难回去了（戒不掉了），任凭你拼命地想找寻来时的路, 你仍然无法杀死你心中的魔兽, You can check out any time you like,But you can never leave。这当然是魔鬼的又一次符咒。
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严重推荐以下古诗版本的加州旅馆中文歌词，虽然译文没能准确表达出原歌词的意境, 但就该强人的功力而言，英译汉的最高境界应该不过如此吧。请欣赏：
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 face
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
Any time of year, you can find it here
月黑大漠路迢迢，风高凛冽客思归，
人倦眼乏昏欲睡，闻香忽见灯火碎，
但见有女娉婷立，耳畔钟声如乐起，
天堂地狱两相忘，浑然不似在人间，
秉烛引路过画廊，人声嘈杂迎客至：
加州客栈诚待客，虚位以侯游子回，
Her mind is Tiffany- twisted, she got the Mercedes bends
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 nineteen sixty nine’
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
衣香鬓影佳人意，玉郎终始为君来，
放歌纵舞前廊院，香汗淋漓未尽欢：
纵使笙歌能醉月，情未忘我怎忘情？
便向校官索美酒，经年未备意阑珊，
午夜梦回旧馆舍，声声呼唤充耳闻，
倦鸟羁留深林久，此间乐哉不思飞，
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
The 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 checkout any time you like, but you can never leave
宝镜倒映烛影晃，寒冰装点酒色红，
宾客齐至成盛筵，佳人美酒俱添光，
轻启朱唇惊四座，投杯停箸不能食：
钢刀银叉手中持，心魔犹在不能消，
自我羁押成囚徒，吾辈颓然尚不知。
闻言仓皇寻旧路，四顾茫茫无着处，
明朝更向何处去？更者悠然言少歇：
纵然我辈长别离，此生有命不能弃，
前路漫漫归旧旅，生此回环无尽时。
最后附上原英文歌词和中文直译：
on a dark desert highway,行驶在昏黑的荒漠公路上，
cool wind in my hair.凉风吹过我的头发。
warm smell of colitas,温馨的大麻香，
rising up through the air.弥漫在空气中。
up ahead in the distance,抬头遥望远方，
i saw a shimmering light.我看到微弱的灯光。
my head grew heavy my sight grew dim.我的头越来越沉,视线也变得模糊。
i had 2 stop 4 the night.我不得不停下来过夜。
there she stood in the doorway;她站在门口那儿招呼我
i heard the mission bell.我听到远处教堂的钟声。
and i was thinking 2 myself,我在心里对自己说
"this could b heaven or this could b hell".这里可能是天堂也可能是地狱。
then she lit up a candle,然后她点燃了蜡烛，
and she showed me the way.给我引路。
there were voices down the corridor.沿着走廊传来阵阵说话声。
i thought i heard them say...我想我听到他们在说……
welcome to the hotel california!欢迎来到加州旅馆！
such a lovely place!如此美丽的地方！
such a lovely face!多么可爱的的面容！！
plenty of room at the hotel california!加州旅馆有充足的房间！
any time of year,u can find it here!一年的任何时候,你都能在这找到房间。
her mind is tiffany-twisted,她的心为珠宝所扭曲，
she got the mercedes bends.她拥有豪华奔驰车。
she got a lot of pretty,pretty boys.她有许多漂亮的小伙子。
that she calls friends.她称之为朋友。
how they dance in the courtyard,他们在庭院里翩翩起舞，
sweet summer sweat.夏日的香汗伶俐。
some dance to remember!有些舞是为了回忆！
some dance to forget!而有些舞是为了忘却！
so i called up the captain,于是我叫来领班，
"please bring me my wine."请给我来些酒。
he said"we haven't had that spirit here,他说我们这不供应列酒
since nineteen sixty nine."从1969年起。
and still those voices are calling from far away.远处仍然传来他们的话语。
wake u up in the middle of the night.在半夜把你吵醒。
just 2 hear them say...只听到他们在说……
welcome to the hotel california!欢迎到加州旅馆来！
such a lovely place!如此美丽的地方！
such a lovely face!多么可爱的的面容！
they livin' it up at the hotel california.他们在加州旅馆尽情狂欢。
what a nice surprise,好得令人吃惊，
bring your alibis.使你有来到这的借口。
mirrors on the ceiling,天花板上镶嵌着的镜子，
the pink champagne on ice.冰镇着的粉色香槟
and she said"we are all just prisoners here-她说我们都是这的囚徒 -
of our own device".但是是我们自愿的。
and in the master's chambers.在主人的卧房里。
they gathered 4 the feast.他们为宴会聚在一起。
they stabbed it with their steely knives.他们彼此间用钢刀相互砍杀。
but they just can't kill the beast.但他们甚至不能杀死野兽！
last thing i remember,我所记得的最后一件事
i was running 4 the door.是我跑向门口。
i had 2 find the passage back,我必须找到来时的路，
to the place i was before.回到我过去的地方。
"relax",said the night man,守夜人说放宽心，
"we are programmed to receive.我们只是照常接待
u can checkout any time u like.你想什么时候结帐都可以。
but u can never leave！"但你永远无法离去！
