[Verse 1 - Drums in] [Bm] On a dark desert highway, [F#] cool wind in my hair [A] Warm smell of colitas, [E] rising up through the air [G] Up ahead in the distance, I [D] saw a shimmering light [Em] My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim, [F#] I had to stop for the night [Bm] There she stood in the doorway; [F#] I heard the mission bell [A] And I was thinking to myself, [E] heaven or this could be hell [G] Then she lit up a candle and she [D] showed me the way [Em] There were voices down the corridor, [F#] I thought I heard them say...
[Chorus] [G] Welcome to the hotel Cali [D] fornia; [F#] lovely place, [Bm] lovely face [G] Plenty of room at the hotel Cali [D] fornia, [Em] time of year, you can [F#] find it here
[Verse 2] [Bm] Her mind is tiffany-twisted, [F#] she got the Mercedes Benz [A] She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys, that [E] she calls friends [G] How they dance in the courtyard, [D] sweet summer sweat. [Em] Some dance to remember, [F#] some dance to forget [Bm] So I called up the captain, [F#] please bring me my wine [A] haven t had that spirit here since [E] nineteen sixty nine [G] And still those voices are calling from [D] far away [Em] Wake you up in the middle of the night, [F#] just to hear them say
[Chorus] [G] Welcome to the hotel Cali [D] fornia; [F#] lovely place, [Bm] lovely face [G] They re living it up at the hotel Cali [D] fornia [Em] nice surprise, bring your [F#] alibis
[Verse 3] [Bm] Mirrors on the ceiling, [F#] the pink champagne on ice [A] we are all just prisoners here, [E] of our own device [G] And in the masters chambers, [D] they gathered for the feast [Em] The stab it with their steely knives, [F#] just (snare) can't (snare) kill the (snare - flamenco fill) beast [Bm] Last thing I remember, I was [F#] running for the door [A] I had to find the passage back, [E] place I was before [G] relax, said the night man, [D] programmed to receive. [Em] You can checkout any time you like, [F#] (F#stop+snare) but you can never leave! (F#F#F#)
[Another Chorus? - use snare to bring back in] [G] Welcome to the hotel Cali [D] fornia; [F#] lovely place, [Bm] lovely face [G] They re living it up at the hotel Cali [D] fornia [Em] nice surprise, bring your [F#] alibis
[Verse 1 - Finger pick - no drums] [D] Don't go [Bm6-x20102] Changin' [Gmaj7] to try please [Bm][D7] me [Gmaj7] you never [Gm7] let me down before [D/F#] [Am7] Mmmm [D7][Gmaj7] Don't im [Gm7] agine [D/F#] you're too fam [Bm7] iliar [E9sus4] And I don't [E9] see you any [G/A] more
[Refrain 1 - Drums in] [D] I would not [Bm6] leave you [Gmaj7] in times of [Bm] trouble [D9] [Gmaj7] we never [Gm7] could have come this [D/F#] far [Am7] Mmmm [D7][Gmaj7] I took the [Gm] good times [D/F#] I'll take the [Bm7] bad times [Em7] I'll take you [G/A] just the way you are Gm6/D G/D D Gm6/D G/D D (play variation of intro riff X 2)
[Verse 2] [D] Don't go [Bm6] trying [Gmaj7] some new [Bm] fashion [D9] [Gmaj7] Don't change the [Gm] colour of your [D/F#] hair [Am7] Mmm [D7] mm [Gmaj7] You always [Gm] have my [D/F#] unspoken [Bm7] passion [E9sus4] Although I [E9] might not seem to [G/A] care
[Refrain 2] I [D] don't want [Bm6] clever [Gmaj7] conver [Bm] sation [D9] [Gmaj7] I never [Gm] want to work that [D/F#] hard [Am7] Mmmm [D7][Gmaj7] I just want [Gm] someone [D/F#] that I can [Bm7] talk to [Em7] I'll want you [G/A] just the way you are Gm6/D G/D D Gm6/D G/D D (play variation of intro riff X 2)
[Bridge] [Gmaj7] I need to [A6] know that you will [F#m7] always [B7] be [Em7] the same old [A7sus] someone that I [D] knew [D/C] [Bb] What will it [C] take till you be [Am7] lieve in [D9] me [Gm] The way that [C/G] I believe in [G/A] you
[Refrain 3] [D] I said I [Bm6] love you [Gmaj7] & that's for [Bm] ever [D9] [Gmaj7] and this I [Gm] promise from the [D/F#] heart [Am7] Mmmm [D7][Gmaj7] I couldn't [Gm] love you [D/F#] any [Bm7] better [Em7] I'll love you [G/A] just the way you are Gm6/D G/D D Gm6/D G/D D (play variation of intro riff X 2)
[Refrain 4] [D] I don't want [Bm6] clever [Gmaj7] conver [Bm] sation [D9] [Gmaj7] I never [Gm] want to work that [D/F#] hard [Am7] Mm [D7][Gmaj7] I just want [Gm] someone [D/F#] that I can [Bm7] talk to [Em] I want you [A7sus4] just the way you are .... Bb C Am7 D9 Gm A7sus4-A7
Suggested ways to do certain chords: D9 x54530 (D7 is an easier alternative) E9sus4 020202 (E7sus and E7 are easier alternatives for the E9's) E9 020102 Bm6 x20102 C/G 3x5553 Suggested Intro (arpeggiated) xx0353. xx0087, xx0085, xx0232