“Hotel California,” released by the Eagles in 1977, is a metaphorical masterpiece exploring the dark underbelly of the American Dream. The song narrates a weary traveler’s entrapment in a luxurious yet inescapable hotel, symbolizing the seductive allure and spiritual emptiness of American society. With cryptic lyrics like “You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave,” it critiques materialism, excess, and the music industry’s corruption in the 1970s. Don Henley describes it as a journey from innocence to experience, unveiling a nightmare beneath the promise of prosperity, blending haunting imagery with profound social commentary.
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