"Hejira" is the eighth studio album by Canadian musician Joni Mitchell, released in November 1976. The title comes from the Arabic word "Hijra," depicting Muhammad's migration from Mecca to Medina, which Mitchell used as a metaphor for her own feelings of rootlessness and journey toward inner strength.
The album was predominantly composed while Mitchell was undertaking a cross-country trip from Maine to Los Angeles. Inspired by her drive across the United States, the result was described as an introspective and solitary album. Musically, the songs contained highly unusual harmonies and explored intricate guitar work that reflected the hues of the moving scenery during her road trip.
"Hejira" showed a shift from Mitchell's previous folk and pop releases towards more complex and expressive musical structures. It's distinguished by minimalist lyricism and free associative expressions, which brought together themes of independence, disillusionment, love, and relationships. Jaco Pastorius, an influential jazz bassist, was among the contributing musicians whose fretless bass work added a significant depth to the album’s sound.
The album was greeted with favorable responses from critics and peaked at #13 on the Billboard 200. It was recognized as a landmark in her career—an album of evocative confessional songwriting. Over time, "Hejira" is considered as a classic and one of the high points of Mitchell's career.
