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This a sense of constant perpetuity here, as well as multiple interpretations.

  • The sex these two share goes “on and on and on and on”

  • Meaningless one night stands like this are a common occurrence

  • This is the way some people will always treat their relationships

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Technically, there’s no place known as “South Detroit”.

In a 2012 article for Vulture, the song’s singer and writer, Steve Perry, stated:

I ran the phonetics of east, west, and north, but nothing sounded as good or emotionally true to me as South Detroit. The syntax just sounded right. I fell in love with the line. It’s only been in the last few years that I’ve learned that there is no South Detroit. But it doesn’t matter.

Of course, Detroit does have a southernmost portion, but this area is known as “downtown”. Any further south just leads to Windsor, Canada (after crossing the Detroit River). And southwest of that lies a stretch of towns known collectively as “Downriver”, which at the time the song was written was still somewhat rural.

The juxtaposition of country girl/city boy helps develop the theme of finding love in such a big world.

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This is a method of payment called “direct payment” or “cash-only”. It is often used by individuals who need a certain amount of discretion, like, for instance, an over-dosing rock star. Also, drug dealers have a “cash-only” policy as well.

In the documentary History of the Eagles, songwriter Glen Frey says that he got the idea for this song when riding shotgun with a drug dealer who was carrying weight.

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The driving metaphor for life is continued in a play-on-words here. The couple didn’t see the stop sign because they’re “blinded by thirst”. Their fast life and urge to live in excess clouds the judgement of these two, leading them to take a “turn for the worst”.

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“Life in the Fast Lane,” a staple song of classic rock stations, tells the story of a couple finding solace in excess, but taking it to the edge. This is a recurring theme throughout Hotel California.

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Sweden has exported several hugely successful actresses, including Greta Garbo, Ingrid Bergman, and Ann-Margret.

However, as the song later alludes to, for every mega-star there are hundreds of failures. And many of these Swedish girls dreaming of silver screen quotations end up with “hard core / soft porn” jobs where all the talent agent wants is a pretty body, and not a voice.

Also note the inclusion of China and Sweden in the opening lines of the song to highlight the global extent of Hollywood’s influence.

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People who snitch need to listen to this song and check themselves before they wreck themselves.

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Check the line up. He means look at the people who are part of Light Era. Omar, Streetlight, Passionate MC, Etc.

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“Swahili” meaning black leather because most Kenyans are black.

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A pun on Nicki’s behalf. Her bracelet = Ice and she’s looking in the mirror, so you can interpret the line as “ Put my bracelet in the mirror I see me/ Icey me”

GET IT?

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