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
Put 'em in a tree museum
And they charged the people
A dollar and a half just to see 'em
Don't it always ...
Hey farmer farmer
Put away that DDT now
Give me spots on my apples
But leave me the birds and the bees
Please!
Don't it always ...
Late last night
I heard the screen door slam
And a big yellow taxi
Took away my old man
Don't it always ...
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
recording: Joni Mitchell [YouTube]
recording: Amy Grant [YouTube]
background: Joni Mitchell's lyrics and liner notes [Joni Mitchell]