My Gen X Playlist: Hotel California – The Eagles

I used to be more adventurous back in my 20s. Less responsibility. More time. More youth. The perfect recipe for adventure. My first adventure came right after college. I saved enough money to backpack through Europe for a month on a shoe string budget. A friend and I jumped on a plane without an itinerary and played Europe by ear. Every day was an unknown adventure. We cycled through the Swiss Alps, white water rafted freezing cold waters, drank sangria all night in Pamplona, soaked up Italian history and architecture, explored Prague’s cobblestone streets and much more. Our only regret – drinking too much so we could not run with the bulls. But joining San Fermin’s all night celebration and watching the bulls run free was still truly amazing. Travel was eye opening and everything was a Eurail train ride away. We capped the trip off in a smoked filled Parisian bar emptying our wallets for one last night in Europe. The mix of live music, strong drinks and the sense of care free adventure was a fitting last cheers. I remember the band played the Eagles’ Hotel California and the entire bar sang along in unison. It was perfect. Now, when I’m driving to work and hear Hotel California on the radio, I’m immediately transported back to that smoked filled bar, lifting glasses with strangers and feeling the nostalgia of my youth. I was adventurous back then. I was carefree. I was young. It’s a memory and a feeling I will never forget.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

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

Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes bends
She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys 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 place)
Such a lovely face
They 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!"