They paved paradise, put up a parking lot With a pink motel, 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 paved paradise, put up a parking lot They took all the trees, put 'em 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 Said, "You don't know what you've got till it's gone" They paved paradise, put up a parking lot Say, "Hey farmer, farmer put away the DDT And the 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 till it's gone They paved paradise, put up a parking lot Late last night, I heard that screen door slam And the big yellow taxi come and take away my old man Don't it always seem to go Said, "You don't know what you've got till it's gone" They paved paradise, put up a parking lot Don't it always seem to go You don't know what you've got till it's gone They paved paradise, put up a parking lot They paved paradise, put up a parking lot They paved paradise, put up a parking lot