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 til it's gone? They paved paradise and put up a parking lot They paved paradise and put up a parking lot They took all the trees and put 'em in a tree museum And they charged the people a dollar and a half just to seem 'em No no no 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 paved paradise and put up a parking lot Well, hey farmer farmer, put away the DDT now Give me some spots on my apples 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 and put up a parking lot Listenin' late last night, I heard the screen door slam And a big yellow taxi took away my man, no 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