歌词的最大特点是充满了神秘，暧昧和难以名状的诱惑。翻译到了最后，觉得冷汗嗖嗖，心里有说不出的难受和恐怖之感。

  呵呵，献丑，但是努力了。

   On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
 　荒无人烟的公路上，高速激起的冷风吹乱了我的长发

　　Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air

　　大麻温热而迷醉的味道，在周遭弥漫
　　Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light
　　抬头看远方，似乎灯光在若有若无地幻灭

　　My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
　　我的头变得混沌，视线也愈发迷离

　　I had to stop for the night

　　该停下了，找个可以安睡的地方　
　　There she stood in the doorway
　　她就站在灯火阑珊的门廊
　　I heard the mission bell
　　似乎耳边有教堂的钟声回响
　　And I was thinking to myself, "This could be Heaven or this could be Hell"
　　慢慢地靠拢去，管他是地狱还是天堂
　　Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way
　　她手中微微的烛光为我引路

　　There were voices down the corridor,

　　走廊深处有人声回响
　　I thought I heard them say......
　　我仿佛听见他们在唱……
　　"Welcome to the Hotel California"
　　“欢迎来到加州旅馆”

　　Such a lovely place, Such a lovely face
　　多可爱的地方, 多暧昧的脸庞
　　Plenty of rooms at the Hotel California
　　这里有充裕的客房
　　Any time of year, you can find it here
　　一年四季，都向你和你的心灵开放

　　Her mind is Tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes bends

　　她开着梅塞德斯·奔驰，眼睛里闪烁着难以捕捉的目光
　　She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys, that she calls friends
　　她身边围着许多迷人的小伙子，她都称作朋友
　　How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat.
　　夏日滚烫的香汗，随着他们的舞动挥洒
　　Some dance to remember, some dance to forget
　　有人在舞动中追忆，也有人在舞动中暂忘

　　So I called up the Captain, "Please bring me my wine"

　　于是我招呼店家，“请给我来点酒”
　　He said,"We haven't had that spirit here since 1969"
　　他喃喃地说，“1969年后，我们这就没人需要那东西了”
　　And still those voices are calling from far away,
　　外面的歌舞升平依旧，
　　Wake you up in the middle of the night
　　在午夜惊扰着我的寒梦
　　Just to hear them say......
　　他们还在吟唱……
　　"Welcome to the Hotel California "
　　“欢迎来到加州旅馆”
　　Such a lovely place， Such a lovely face
　　多可爱的地方, 多暧昧的脸庞
　　They livin' it up at the Hotel California
　　在暗夜里他们纵情狂欢
　　What a nice surprise, bring your alibis"
　　多么可怕的诱惑，让你身不由己地幻想
　　Mirrors on the ceiling, The pink champagne on ice
　　冰上粉红色的香槟，倒映在屋顶的镜子上
　　And she said :"We are all just prisoners here, of our own device"
　　这时她说，“肉体，只不过是自己心灵的囚牢”
　　And in the master's chambers, They gathered for the feast ;
　　在主人房间里，他们围拢在盛宴前

　　They stab it with their steely knives,
　　钢制的刀叉，戳刺着盘里的肉
　　But they just can't kill the beast
　　但是却再也无法杀戮已死的野兽
　　Last thing I remember, I was running for the door
　　我最后的记忆是飞奔出了大门
　　I had to find the passage back to the place I was before
　　我必须找寻来时的路，和心的归宿

　　"Relax",said the night-man,“ We are programmed to receive.

　　“别紧张”值班的老者说，“我们可以永远收留你,
　　You can checkout any time you like,
　　你可以随时结帐走人,
　　but you can never leave!"
　　但你的心，却再也无法离开!”