They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique
And a swinging hot spot

Dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what youve got
Till its 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

Dont it always seem to go
That you dont know what you've got
Till its gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

Hey farmer farmer
Put away that d.d.t. 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 dont know what you've got
Till its gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

Late last nightI heard the screen door slam
And a big yellow taxi
Took away my old man

Don't it always seem to go
That you dont know what youve got
Till its gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

Joni Mitchell