Happy Music Monday and the Monday before Halloween ghouls and goblins. For this edition of Music Monday I’m writing about a song I don’t particularly care for ¯\_(ツ)_/¯, but don’t worry there’s a reason.

Today’s choice is “Hotel California” by The Eagles.

The Eagles were somewhat of a staple in my house growing up. Definitely on the list of “mom’s cleaning the house music”. My parents, along with many other Baby Boomers, kept The Eagles Greatest Hits (1971-1975) CD on rotation. Maybe unpopular opinion but I personally think The Eagles are overrated but this isn’t a post about me trashing The Eagles.

You see, for years, and I mean YEARS (until I was probably 22), I thought this song was about a haunted hotel in California. It was all because of this verse:

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

When I was a kid I heard “wine” as “wife” and little Brit didn’t know that “spirit” was another term for alcohol. And those voices calling from far away were ghosts. So for years I thought this song was about some spooky, haunted ass hotel. And honestly it would be better if it was.

So that’s it for this spooky edition of Music Monday. Ever misheard a lyric for years? I would love to hear about it. Now go listen to The Eagles now. Or not. You know I don’t care.