So they paved paradise
Put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique
And a swingin' night spot
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've 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 all the people
An arm and a leg just too see 'em
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
'Til it's gone
They paved paradise
Put up a parking lot

Hey, farmer
Put away your DDT
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
'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
Come and took away my old man
Oh, don't it always seem to go
You don't know what you've got
'Til it's gone
They paved paradise
Put up a parking lot
They put up a parking lot

A parking lot
They paved paradise

Copyright: RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Writer(s): Joni Mitchell