BIG YELLOW TAXI

(By Joni Mitchell - 1975)

They paved Paradise, put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swinging hot spot
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you got 'til it's gone?
They paved Paradise, put up a parking lot.

They took all the trees, put 'em in a tree museum
And they charged the people, a dollar and a half just to see 'em
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you got 'til it's gone?
They paved Paradise, put up a parking lot.

Hey Farmer, Farmer, put away your DDT now
Leave me scars on the apples, but leave me the birds and the bees (please)
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you got 'til it's gone?
They paved Paradise, put up a parking lot.

Late last night, I heard the screen door slam
And a big yellow taxi, took away my old man
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you got 'til it's gone?
They paved Paradise, put up a parking lot.

Joni Mitchell

 
1973