A few days ago

Catherine

Meaning of this line in the song ‘Hotel California’?

I’d like to know what ” I heard the mission bell” means in the song Hotel California by the Eagles

The song goes:

Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light

My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim

I had to stop for the night

There she stood in the doorway;

I heard the mission bell <---- And I was thinking to myself 'This could be heaven or this could be hell' [...] What does the 'mission bell' mean? Also... who do you think 'she' is, and what is going on I'm analyzing this song for an english essay... Any help would be greatly appreciated Thank you!

Top 10 Answers

A few days ago

Butch

Favorite Answer

The mission bell is something that once was a regular sound in California. We have many missions that were founded long ago. Some still have bells that ring on certain occasions.

This is what the line is talking about. He was probably driving along the Pacific Coast Highway ( where a lot of missions are located along ). The she is a beautiful woman, possibly a “woman of the evening” or something along those lines. Hope you can take it from here. This is one of my favorite songs.

5 years ago

There are several places in California, particularly San Juan Capistrano, where Missions (churches started by the Spanish in centuries past) are common. These churches have bells, much like a lot of other churches. This line most likely means that the song’s story takes place near one of these churches, and on hearing the bell ring the singer was reminded of Heaven, and thus the line, “This could be heaven or this could be hell.” I’m not sure about the rest, but from what I gather the “she” might be his imagining an angel, or a woman who looks like an angel.

6 years ago

Jaclyn

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Meaning of this line in the song 'Hotel California'?
I'd like to know what " I heard the mission bell" means in the song Hotel California by the Eagles

The song goes:

Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light

My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim

I had to stop for the night

There she stood in the doorway;

I heard…

4 years ago

Mission Bell

A few days ago

Anonymous

The Mission bell sounds to invite him in….this could be heaven or hell is a beautiful woman that he is unsure of, he’s wondering if she’s nice or evil?

A few days ago

kevin h

I am assuming that it means a real religious mission. A mission is an outpost of the church staffed by missionaries, usually in an impoverished area, to get people to convert to a religion. I think what they are saying is they heard the mission bell, the calling to religion and he is still unsure if it is for heaven or hell. Which religion is calling…Good Luck.

A few days ago

greβ

“There she stood in the doorway, I heard the mission bell ring. And I was thinking to myself, this could be heaven or this could be hell.” This idiom gives more insight into the speaker of the poem. It would lead me to believe the speaker is male, given the fact that he is referring to a beautiful woman, and the vocalist in the song is male. This verse also lends itself to my interpretation of materialism. The line “This could be heaven or this could be hell” describes the speakers hesitation. Is this really what they want?

A few days ago

Anonymous

To be honest, I think “she” is basically “she”, the girl that he loves; and as to the meaning of “I heard the mission bell”, I think he means that bells were going off in his head and that this was his chance to go for her and win her over. But you don’t have to take my word for it.

A few days ago

Anonymous

I was told that it was meant to be about a hotel in hell.

6 years ago

vin

Oh get a life the lot of you!

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