They paved paradise, they put up a parking lot
A pink hotel, a boutique and a swinging hot spot
Don´t it always go to show
You never know what you got till it´s gone?
They paved paradise, they put up a parking lot.

They took all the trees, they put them in a tree museum
They charged the people a dollar and a half just to see them
Don´t it always go to show
You never know what you got till it´s gone?
They paved paradise, they put up a parking lot.

Hey farmer, farmer, put away that D.D.T
Give me spots on my apples but leave me the birds and the bees, please,
Don´t it always go to show
You never know what you got till it´s gone?
They paved paradise, they put up a parking lot.

Late last night I heard my screen door slam
A big yellow taxi took away my old man
Don´t it always go to show
You never know what you got till it´s gone?
They paved paradise, they put up a parking lot.