By now, 99.9% of music fans know (and love) the 1977 song, “Hotel California,” by the Los Angeles-born band, the Eagles. It’s haunting mood, lyrical depth, its warning, and its topic: dangerous hedonism. But what if we took a step back and considered the song to be more of a template and less of an individual song?
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What does that mean? Well, to find out we reached out to ChatGPT to see what the artificial intelligence system would create when prompted to rewrite “Hotel California” about the state of Texas. Both states are large and important. But while one is known for sunshine and celebrity, the other is known for cowboys. Below you will find the beloved classic in Lone Star style.
[RELATED: Every Song on the Eagles’ Classic Rock Album ‘Hotel California’ Ranked]
“Hotel Texas”
(Verse 1)
On a dusty highway, in the Lone Star State,
Warm winds in my hair, and a cowboy’s fate,
Up ahead in the distance, I saw a neon sign,
It read, “Welcome to Texas, the land of the pines.”
(Pre-Chorus)
I thought I heard a fiddle playing sweet melodies,
And I knew I had to stop, and feel that Texas breeze.
(Chorus)
Welcome to Texas, such a dusty place,
Such a big space, with a rugged grace,
Plenty of barbecue, and a Lone Star embrace,
You can check in anytime, but you can never leave.
(Verse 2)
In the heart of Austin, or the streets of Big D,
There’s a feeling in the air, it’s wild and free,
And I’m chasing the sunset, down the Gulf Coast shore,
Where the Gulf meets the desert, I can’t take no more.
(Pre-Chorus)
I thought I heard some twang, guitars and rolling plains,
I knew I had to stay, in the Lone Star domain.
(Chorus)
Welcome to Texas, such a wild place,
Such a vast space, with a cowboy’s grace,
Plenty of rodeos, and a Lone Star embrace,
You can check in anytime, but you can never leave.
(Bridge)
Mirrors on the ceiling, the stars in the sky,
One last tequila shot, and I knew I couldn’t fly,
And the barkeep said, “We’ve been living it up here,
With our boots on the ground, and a Texas cheer.”
(Verse 3)
They gathered in the courtyard, in the warm summer air,
The cowboys and the dreamers, they were all there,
They said, “We are all just prisoners here, of our own device,”
And in the master’s chamber, they gathered for a Texas slice.
(Pre-Chorus)
They strummed guitars in the night, and sang the songs so well,
I knew I had to stay, in this Texas spell.
(Chorus)
Welcome to Texas, such a vibrant place,
Such a big space, with a friendly face,
Plenty of wide-open skies, and a Lone Star embrace,
You can check in anytime, but you can never leave.
(Outro)
So live it up in Texas, with the sun on your face,
In this Lone Star state, where there’s no better place,
Plenty of memories, and a Lone Star embrace,
You can check in anytime, but you can never leave.
Final Thoughts
To any Texans reading this, how did the AI bot do? Does it feel authentic, does it feel true to the spurs-wearing state? Does “Hotel Texas” do justice to the Lone Star state? While the Eagles are hard to channel perfectly—especially when it comes to this famous song—it’s at least a good start to the idea of writing songs for every region in the U.S. using “Hotel California” as a template.
Photo by RB/Redferns
