Wheat Field with Golden Sun

這是首令我毛骨悚然的歌.
但由於他深層的意義, 與讓人印象深刻的旋律, 所以我一直很喜歡, 也因此聽了Eagles的其他歌曲.

70年代的美國, 特別是加州, 是毒品與性的大本營.
逃家的年輕男女們在這裡過著"愛與和平"的嘻皮生活, 賣春來換取毒品, 或者吸毒過量致死都是很普通的事.
這時期的搖滾也稱為"迷幻搖滾".
歌中的Colitas暗指大麻, spirit是烈酒.
天花板上的鏡子與粉色香檳給人頹廢荒唐的性愛的感覺.
而歌詞中的女性代表著拜金以及縱慾.

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
這段歌詞讓我心驚, 一部份是他傳達的意象, 一部分是這跟我看過的兩本書中吸食LSD的反應不謀而合.

其中一本書叫"十五歲的遺書(Go Ask Alice)", 是真人的日記出版. 書中的少女正是美國70年代的受害者. 她原是內向平凡的女孩, 愛書本勝於人群. 因為父親是教授, 所以家庭背景是無論是教育或者經濟都相當不錯的.
只因為在暑假拜訪外婆時偶然參加了朋友的聚會, 喝了參有迷幻藥的飲料, 從此開始一步步邁向死亡.
先是染上毒癮, 離家前往加州, 無數掙扎, 到戒毒, 之後卻被吸毒的同學排擠, 陷害, 下藥, 進瘋人院, 直到毒害.
因為日記中的描述赤裸裸的真實很直接, 加上少女的單純平凡就如同你我, 所以讀完之時我受到的衝擊非常大.
記得高三英文課報告時, 心臟撲通撲通跳的我曾經對一整班無法取得時代共鳴的女孩們推薦這本書.

You can check out any time you like
But you can never leave'
這句也因為過於真實而讓人害怕, 不過很多事也就是這樣了! 

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 dimmer
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

Her mind is Tiffany-twisted
She got the Mercedes Benz
She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys that she calls friends
How they dance in the courtyard
Sweet summer sweats
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 middles of the night
Just to hear them say---

Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place (such a lovely face)
They living it up at the Hotel California
What a nice surprise, bring you 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'