they paved paradise

and 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've got

till it's gone

they paved paradise

and put up a parking lot.

they took all the trees

and put them in a tree museum

and they charged all 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've got, till it's gone

they paved paradise

and put up a parking lot.

hey farmer turmer

put away that DDT now

give me spots on my apples

but leave me the birds and the bees

please

don't it always seem to go

that you don't know what you've got

till it's gone

they paved paradise

and 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 now what you've got

till it's gone

they paved paradise

and put up a parking lot

(original text,joni mitchell,1969)