You know that feeling when a song hits so hard you have to pull the car over? Joni Mitchell does that. She’s been doing it for decades. Trying to compile a list of songs by Joni Mitchell is basically like trying to catalog every single emotion a human being can feel. It’s messy. It’s vast. It’s incredibly intimidating because her career spans from folk royalty to jazz experimentation and back again.
She isn't just a songwriter. She's a painter who happens to use chords instead of oils. If you grew up with Blue, you probably think of her as the patron saint of heartbreak. If you found her through Hejira, she’s the restless traveler on the open road. Honestly, her discography is a bit of a labyrinth, and if you're just starting out, it’s easy to get lost.
The Early Folk Staples and the Hits Everyone Knows
Most people start with the hits. "Big Yellow Taxi" is the one everyone knows, right? It’s catchy. It’s about parking lots and DDT. But even in a poppy track like that, she’s slipping in heavy themes about environmentalism and loss. It’s funny how a song that sounds so upbeat is actually a mourning song for the earth.
Then there’s "Both Sides, Now." Joni actually wrote this before she was even 25. Think about that for a second. A twenty-something writing about the "illusion" of love and life with that much weight. She recorded it again in 2000 with a full orchestra, and her voice—weathered by years and cigarettes—gave it an entirely new, almost crushing meaning. It went from a young woman’s realization to an elder’s hard-won wisdom.
You can’t talk about a list of songs by Joni Mitchell without mentioning "The Circle Game." It’s the ultimate coming-of-age track. It was actually a response to Neil Young’s "Sugar Mountain." Neil was lamenting the end of childhood, and Joni, being Joni, decided to write a song about how time just keeps spinning and we’re all just passengers on the carousel.
The Raw Vulnerability of the Blue Era
In 1971, Joni released Blue. People still haven't recovered. She famously said she felt like she had "no secrets from the world" and couldn't hide. You can hear it in "A Case of You." The way she hits those high notes while talking about drinking a case of someone and still being on her feet? It’s brutal. It’s beautiful.
"River" is another one. It’s become a Christmas staple, which is kinda weird because it’s a song about wanting to run away from your problems and feeling like a "difficult" person. It starts with those "Jingle Bells" chords in a minor key, immediately setting the mood for anyone who’s ever felt lonely during the holidays.
And then there's "California." It’s a travelogue. She’s in Europe, she’s seeing the "red, red rogue," but she’s pining for the sun and the "grease in the hair" of her home state. It shows her melodic agility—how she can jump from a low, conversational mutter to a soaring cry in the span of a single bar.
Exploring the Jazz Infusion and the Experimental Years
By the mid-70s, Joni got bored with folk. She started hanging out with jazz fusion legends like Jaco Pastorius and Pat Metheny. This is where her list of songs by Joni Mitchell gets really interesting and, for some, a little polarizing.
The Hissing of Summer Lawns was a sharp turn. Take a song like "The Jungle Line." It uses a field recording of the Drummers of Burundi. In 1975! She was sampling before sampling was a thing. It’s dark, rhythmic, and totally weird compared to "Chelsea Morning."
"Coyote" is the standout from Hejira. It’s a rhythmic masterpiece. The lyrics are dense—almost like prose poetry—detailing a brief, flickering romance with a "stationary traveler." The way she fits so many words into those tight spaces without losing the groove is a masterclass in songwriting.
Then you have "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat." She took a Charles Mingus instrumental and wrote lyrics for it. It’s a tribute to Lester Young, and it’s haunting. Joni proved she could hold her own with the heaviest hitters in jazz, even if the folk purists were scratching their heads at the time.
The Underrated Gems and Late-Career Brilliance
If you only listen to the 70s stuff, you’re missing out. Night Ride Home from 1991 has some of her best late-stage writing. The title track is just... peaceful. It’s about a drive home with someone you love, the crickets chirping, the moon shining. It’s grown-up music.
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"Cherokee Louise" is a tough listen but an important one. It tackles the subject of childhood trauma and the plight of Indigenous people in Canada, which is a theme she returned to throughout her life. It shows that her pen never lost its edge, even as the industry shifted toward synth-pop and hair metal.
Her later work often featured her "low" voice. Because of a bout with polio as a child and years of smoking, her vocal range changed significantly. Instead of fighting it, she leaned into it. Listen to "Borderline" or "Sex Kills." The voice is huskier, more cynical, and arguably more powerful because of it.
Why Her Tuning Matters
If you’ve ever tried to play a list of songs by Joni Mitchell on guitar, you’ve probably ended up frustrated. She used over 50 different "open" tunings. She called them "Joni's weird chords." She didn't learn the "right" way to play, so she just moved the pegs until she found sounds that matched the colors she saw in her head. This is why her music sounds so distinct—those lush, suspended chords don't exist in standard tuning.
- "Free Man in Paris" – Uses an open tuning that makes the guitar chime like a bell.
- "Amelia" – The guitar sounds like the drone of an airplane engine, which fits the theme of Amelia Earhart perfectly.
- "Woodstock" – The original version on Ladies of the Canyon is played on a Tremolo-soaked Wurlitzer, creating a ghostly, spiritual vibe that the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young rock version totally missed.
Mapping Out Your Listening Journey
If you’re trying to navigate this massive body of work, don't try to do it all at once. It’s too much.
Start with the "Big Three" albums: Ladies of the Canyon, Blue, and Court and Spark. These give you the transition from pure folk to the sophisticated pop-rock that dominated the airwaves in 1974. "Help Me" and "Free Man in Paris" are the standout tracks from Court and Spark—they are as close to "perfect" pop songs as you can get, despite their complex structures.
Once you’ve digested those, move to the "Traveler" phase. Hejira is the essential record here. It’s the perfect album for a solo road trip. The songs feel like they’re moving at 60 miles per hour. "Black Crow" and "Amelia" will change the way you think about what a song can be.
Finally, explore the "Painter" phase. This includes The Hissing of Summer Lawns and Don Juan's Reckless Daughter. These are for when you want to sit with headphones on and really dissect the layers. "Paprika Plains" is a 16-minute epic that takes up almost an entire side of an LP. It’s not for everyone, but it’s a monumental achievement in experimental music.
Putting the Pieces Together
Joni Mitchell didn't just write songs; she mapped the human psyche. She wrote about the "refuge of the roads" and the "dry ice" of fame. She didn't care about being a pop star, which is exactly why her music has lasted so long. It feels honest. Sometimes uncomfortably so.
Whether you’re looking at a list of songs by Joni Mitchell to find a new favorite or to understand the history of music, the key is to listen for the "chinks in the armor." The little cracks in her voice, the unexpected chord changes, the lyrics that feel like they were ripped from a private letter. That’s where the magic is.
Actionable Insights for the Aspiring Listener:
- Listen Chronologically: To truly appreciate her evolution, start with Song to a Seagull (1968) and work forward. You’ll hear her voice drop and her compositions grow in complexity.
- Watch the 2022 Newport Folk Festival Performance: After years away from the stage due to a brain aneurysm, Joni’s return was miraculous. Watching her play "Just Like This Train" on guitar at age 78 is a lesson in resilience.
- Read the Lyrics Alone: Treat her songs like a book of poetry. Many of her lyrics, especially on The Hissing of Summer Lawns, function as short stories exploring social dynamics and gender roles.
- Check Out "The Joni Project": Many modern artists like Brandi Carlile and James Taylor have performed her work. Comparing their versions to the originals helps highlight how unique Joni’s phrasing actually is.
Moving through her catalog requires patience. You won't "get" some of the jazz stuff on the first listen. That’s okay. It’s supposed to challenge you. Give it time, and eventually, the colors will start to make sense.