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 youve got
til its 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 the people
a dollar and a half just to seem 'em
don't it always seem to go,
that you don't know what youve got
til its gone
they paved paradise and put up a parking lot

hey farmer farmer
put away that DDT now
give me spots on my apples
but leaves me the birds and the bees
please!
don't it always seem to go
that you don't know what youve got
til its 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 know what youve got
til its gone
they paved paradise
and put up a parking lot