What is "hejira"

Hegira \He*gi"ra\ (?; 277), n. [Written also hejira.] [Ar. hijrah flight.] The flight of Mohammed from Mecca, September 13, a. d. 622 (subsequently established as the first year of the Moslem era); hence, any flight or exodus regarded as like that of Mohammed.

Note: The starting point of the Era was made to begin, not from the date of the flight, but from the first day of the Arabic year, which corresponds to July 16, a. d. 622.

n. (alternative form of hegira English)

Hejira is the eighth studio album by the Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, released in 1976.

The album title is a transliteration of the Arabic word hijra, which means "journey", usually referring to the migration of the Islamic prophet Muhammad (and his companions) from Mecca to Medina in 622. The songs on the album were largely written by Mitchell on a trip by car from Maine back to Los Angeles, California, with prominent imagery including highways, small towns and snow. The photographs of Mitchell on the front and back cover were taken by Norman Seeff and appear against a backdrop of Lake Mendota, in Madison, Wisconsin, after an ice storm.

The album did not sell as well as its predecessors, peaking at #22 in Mitchell's native Canada, although it still reached #13 on the Billboard 200 pop album chart and was certified Gold, and #11 in the UK where it has been certified Silver. Critically, the album was generally well received and has since been recognized as one of the high-water marks in Mitchell's career.

"Hejira" is the title track from Joni Mitchell's 1976 album. It is the fifth track on the album (the last song on Side One of the original vinyl LP), and the second of four tracks on Hejira which fretless bassist Jaco Pastorius plays on.

The track itself features a distinctive open tuning, C-G-D-F-G-C, which allows Joni to play her unorthodox chord voicings and distinctive fingerpicking pattern.