Hejira by Joni Mitchell - Lyrics and Translation

VERSE

Hejira

Joni Mitchell

Hejira

Song byJoni Mitchell

in AlbumHejira

I'm traveling in some vehicle

I'm sitting in some cafe

A defector from the petty wars

That shell shock love away

There's comfort in melancholy

When there's no need to explain

It's just as natural as the weather

In this moody sky today

In our possessive coupling

So much could not be expressed

So now I'm returning to myself

These things that you and I suppressed

I see something of myself in everyone

Just at this moment of the world

As snow gathers like bolts of lace

Waltzing on a ballroom girl

You know it never has been easy

Whether you do or you do not resign

Whether you travel the breadth of extremities

Or stick to some straighter line

Now here's a man and a woman sitting on a rock

They're either going to thaw out or freeze

Listen...

Strains of Benny Goodman

Coming thru' the snow and the pinewood trees

I'm porous with travel fever

But you know I'm so glad to be on my own

Still somehow the slightest touch of a stranger

Can set up trembling in my bones

I know - no one's going to show me everything

We all come and go unknown

Each so deep and superficial

Between the forceps and the stone

Well I looked at the granite markers

Those tribute to finality - to eternity

And then I looked at myself here

Chicken scratching for my immortality

In the church they light the candles

And the wax rolls down like tears

There's the hope and the hopelessness

I've witnessed thirty years

We're only particles of change I know, I know

Orbiting around the sun

But how can I have that point of view

When I'm always bound and tied to someone

White flags of winter chimneys

Waving truce against the moon

In the mirrors of a modern bank

>From the window of a hotel room

I'm traveling in some vehicle

I'm sitting in some cafe

A defector from the petty wars

Until love sucks me back that way

LanguageEnglish

Translated byAllen Morningstar

About this Song

Hejira by Joni Mitchell is a reflective and introspective song that delves into themes of solitude, self-discovery, and the journey of life. Through lyrical storytelling, Mitchell captures the essence of a personal voyage, both literal and metaphorical. The song reflects on the transient nature of relationships, the search for freedom, and the inevitability of change. Poignant moments in the song include vivid imagery and evocative language that convey a sense of longing and contemplation. Overall, 'Hejira' is a poetic exploration of the inner landscape of an individual on a quest for meaning and authenticity.

I'm traveling in some vehicle

I'm sitting in some cafe

A defector from the petty wars

That shell shock love away

There's comfort in melancholy

When there's no need to explain

It's just as natural as the weather

In this moody sky today

In our possessive coupling

So much could not be expressed

So now I'm returning to myself

These things that you and I suppressed

I see something of myself in everyone

Just at this moment of the world

As snow gathers like bolts of lace

Waltzing on a ballroom girl

You know it never has been easy

Whether you do or you do not resign

Whether you travel the breadth of extremities

Or stick to some straighter line

Now here's a man and a woman sitting on a rock

They're either going to thaw out or freeze

Listen...

Strains of Benny Goodman

Coming thru' the snow and the pinewood trees

I'm porous with travel fever

But you know I'm so glad to be on my own

Still somehow the slightest touch of a stranger

Can set up trembling in my bones

I know - no one's going to show me everything

We all come and go unknown

Each so deep and superficial

Between the forceps and the stone

Well I looked at the granite markers

Those tribute to finality - to eternity

And then I looked at myself here

Chicken scratching for my immortality

In the church they light the candles

And the wax rolls down like tears

There's the hope and the hopelessness

I've witnessed thirty years

We're only particles of change I know, I know

Orbiting around the sun

But how can I have that point of view

When I'm always bound and tied to someone

White flags of winter chimneys

Waving truce against the moon

In the mirrors of a modern bank

>From the window of a hotel room

I'm traveling in some vehicle

I'm sitting in some cafe

A defector from the petty wars

Until love sucks me back that way

Rate this translation

More like Hejira

Coyote

Coyote

Amelia

Amelia

Furry Sings The Blues

Furry Sings The Blues

Strange Boy

Strange Boy

Song For Sharon

Song For Sharon

Black Crow

Black Crow

Blue Motel Room

Blue Motel Room

Refuge Of The Roads

Refuge Of The Roads