what is the meaning of COLITAS in the song hotel california by eagles. (i’m not an english speaker)?
I am trying to translate the song "Hotel California" by the Eagles, but I don't fully understand one particular line:
"On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air."
What does "colitas" mean in this context?
10 Answers
Wikipedia claims that;
'According to Don Henley, the line "warm smell of colitas" refers to colitas, which are a desert flower with a warm, heady smell. However, the plant with the nearest spelling is coleus, which has no distinct aroma.
According to Irving Azoff (Eagles management);
...during the writing of the song “Hotel California,” by Don Henley and Glenn Frey, the word “colitas” was translated for them by their Mexican-American road manager as “little buds.”
Colitas is 'little tails', but here the author is referring to “colas,” the tip of a marijuana branch, where it is more potent and with more sap — said to be the best part of the leaves.'
Hope that helps.
Feb 09, 2025
colitas is the diminutive feminine plural of the Spanish cola, tail. Colitas is little tails, but here the author is referring to 'colas,' the tip of a marijuana branch, where it is more potent and with more sap (said to be the best part of the leaves).
Eagles management honcho Irving Azoff: "In 1976, during the writing of the song 'Hotel California' by Messrs. Henley and Frey, the word `colitas' was translated for them by their Mexican-American road manager as 'little buds.'
Colitas is not a desert flower nor is it any kind of plant. You spelled it correctly. When Don Henley and Glen Frey wrote the song a Spanish speaking friend of theirs told them that colitas actually meant "little buds" as in buds off of a marijuana plant. That is the reference they were making. In actual translation the word means little tails.
Colitas is a swelling of the colon, which can emit a strange, desert-flower type of odor. Apparently, the Hotel California housed residents suffering from this ailment.
Colitas has no meaning in English. In Spanish, it translates as “little tails”, and refers to the tips of marijuana leaves, supposedly the most potent part of the plant.
I always thought it was referencing the desert plant..The writers of the song say differently. They say it is a Spanish word meaning little tails..which was a slang name for the best, most potent part of the weed bud.. Says it quite clearly on Wiki..several interviews they say the same thing.. learn something new every day!! ?
Colitas is little tails, but here the author is referring to “colas,” the tip of a marijuana branch, where it is more potent and with more sap.
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