Hotel California - Desi Style

On a dark crowded highway
brylcreem in my hair
warm smell of parathas
rising up through the air

up ahead in the distance
I saw a shimmering light
my eyes grew dim and my head grew light
I had to stop for the night

there they stood in the doorway
they were desis you could tell
I got out fearfully
saying this will surely be hell

all around us were buildings
Sun, SGI and Dell
I slowly unloaded my things
In the shadows of Intel

and still those parking lots were full of Hondas
waiting up in the middle of the night
to be driven home by programers

welcome to the town of Sunnyvale
such a desi place, such a crazy place
we're livin' it up in the town of Sunnyvale
such a nice surprise, so many people with no lives

my heartstrings were twisted
I wanted to feel at home
where thousands of desis existed
and no white man dared roam

sambar stains on the ceilings
mango lassis on ice
sit and watch the paint peeling
or make daal and boil rice

but my mind revolted
at the very thought
I grabbed my bag and bolted
I'd escape no matter what

and still those voices are calling from far away
wake you up in the middle of the night
I can hear them say

welcome to the town of Sunnyvale
such a desi place, such a crazy place
we're livin' it up in the town of Sunnyvale
such a nice surprise, so many people with no lives

I wake up in a cold sweat thank god it was a dream,
there is no need to fret.
I still live in the Marin.
Oh, I still live in Marin.

written by Jai Natarajan