They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

With a pink hotel, a boutique
And a swinging hotspot

Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
'Til 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 them

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 a parking lot

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 seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put a parking lot

Late last night
I heard a 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 you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

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