They've 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 till it's gone

They've paved paradise

and put up a parking lot

They took all the trees

and put 'em in a tree museum

And then they charged

all the people

twenty-five bucks

just to see 'em

Don't it always seem to go

That you don't know what

you've got till it's gone

They've paved paradise

and put up a parking lot

Hey farmer,

farmer put away

your 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've paved paradise

and put up a parking lot

I said they've 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've paved paradise

and put up a parking lot

Late last night

I heard the screen door slam

And a big yellow taxi

carried off my old man

Don't it always seem to go

That you don't know what

you've got till it's gone

They've 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've paved paradise

and put up a parking lot

Oh now, now, paved paradise

and put up a parking lot

Hey, steamed rolled paradise

and put up a parking lot