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Joni Mitchell — Big Yellow Taxi
Album: Ladies of the Canyon
Avg rating:
7.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 305









Released: 1970
Length: 2:14
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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They paved paradise, put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swingin' hotspot
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
(Shoo-bop-bop-bop-bop, shoo-bop-bop-bop-bop)

They took all the trees, put them in a tree museum
And they charged the people
A dollar and a half 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 paved paradise, put up a parking lot
(Shoo-bop-bop-bop-bop, shoo-bop-bop-bop-bop)

Hey farmer, farmer, put away the 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 its gone?
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot
(Shoo-bop-bop-bop-bop, shoo-bop-bop-bop-bop)

Late last night, I heard the 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, put up a parking lot
(Shoo-bop-bop-bop-bop)

I said, 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
(Shoo-bop-bop-bop-bop)

They paved paradise, put up a parking lot
(Shoo-bop-bop-bop-bop)

They paved paradise, put up a parking lot
Ah ha ha ha
Comments (30)add comment

The Wisconsin Idea — from which came many of the progressive notions that made the 20th century superior to the 19th, and the political manifestation of what became known as the Social Gospel — was the animating force behind Wisconsin politics for so many years that watching Walker recklessly destroy it is like watching the political equivalent of paving paradise and putting up the parking lot.
Posted 11 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]

Joni Mitchell - "Big Yellow Taxi" Live (1970):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgMEPk6fvpg

"wow man!"
Posted 14 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
Hinkamp wrote:
The Counting Crowes version was a nice break from this.
For me it was the first time ever to hear the original, but yeah, I like them both.
Posted 17 years ago by Kerly    [ Reply ]
Nicely done, Joni.
Posted 17 years ago by meydele    [ Reply ]
Hey, Bill: I just Google mapped in on Paradise. I can see your house, but I can't see the parking lot!!
Posted 17 years ago by algrif    [ Reply ]
Paul_in_Australia wrote:
Yes. Indeed. The best song, ever. Composed. ( Apart from Crazy Horses by The Osmonds. That must be THE best song ever composed )
Easy.
Posted 17 years ago by master_betty    [ Reply ]
The Counting Crowes version was a nice break from this.
Posted 18 years ago by Hinkamp    [ Reply ]
Yes! This song is brilliant.
Posted 18 years ago by Professor_C    [ Reply ]
OOooh ba ba ba ba ba!
Posted 18 years ago by Mari    [ Reply ]
fuh2 wrote:
More true now than ever. Perhaps the best song ever composed.
Yes. Indeed. The best song, ever. Composed. ( Apart from Crazy Horses by The Osmonds. That must be THE best song ever composed )
Posted 18 years ago by Paul_in_Australia    [ Reply ]
window wrote:
This is probably sacrilege to most of you, but I actually prefer the Counting Crows version. In it, the guitar and drums drop out just prior to the last verse, which is sung softly over strings. And the line "you don't know what you've got till it's gone" is now applied to the loss of love from another person instead of destruction of the environment. It's a dramatic shift in context, and the shift in dynamics lends the lyrics more emotional weight. Then again, the original version has Joni Mitchell's beautiful voice.
I'll have to agree. Though, that little laugh at the end is sexy.
Posted 18 years ago by themotion    [ Reply ]
cattgirl813 wrote:
Wouldn't it be cool to hear "Nothing But Flowers" after this?
either you've heard this sequence before, or Bill liked your idea today :P
Posted 18 years ago by ziggytrix    [ Reply ]
thefoodoflove wrote:
What a voice!!
It's always struck me that doesn't sound like Joni. Well, it does, but it sounds different -- has a "cuter" quality to it. Maybe it's just that it's all in a higher range than most of her stuff. Whatever, it's a fabulous song.
Posted 18 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
window wrote:
This is probably sacrilege to most of you, but I actually prefer the Counting Crows version. .... Then again, the original version has Joni Mitchell's beautiful voice.
Why yes. It does. And it is. But at least you can give her some cred. for the voice. She sounds so young, doesn't she? She was.
Posted 18 years ago by ChardRemains    [ Reply ]
More true now than ever. Perhaps the best song ever composed.
Posted 18 years ago by fuh2    [ Reply ]
IMO, Joni's second-best album, after Blue. Most excellent.
Posted 18 years ago by jah_blessed    [ Reply ]
redeyespy wrote:
The only version you'll ever need.
This is probably sacrilege to most of you, but I actually prefer the Counting Crows version. In it, the guitar and drums drop out just prior to the last verse, which is sung softly over strings. And the line "you don't know what you've got till it's gone" is now applied to the loss of love from another person instead of destruction of the environment. It's a dramatic shift in context, and the shift in dynamics lends the lyrics more emotional weight. Then again, the original version has Joni Mitchell's beautiful voice.
Posted 18 years ago by window    [ Reply ]
wonderful song..
Posted 18 years ago by slowhand    [ Reply ]
I've got a deep mistrust of songs with a blatant "message" - and a deep distaste of Mrs Mitchell. What's with that artificial laugh? Ewwwww makes me cringe. That said, I still give it a 4. Let's be civil.
Posted 18 years ago by pyxxel    [ Reply ]
Cruithne3753 wrote:
A nice song. The only thing that bugs a little bit, is at the end when she puts on a silly voice and laughs at herself for being so funny...
Gee, I always found that part rather charming.
Posted 18 years ago by Marr    [ Reply ]
Posted 18 years ago by CCinSB    [ Reply ]
A nice song. The only thing that bugs a little bit, is at the end when she puts on a silly voice and laughs at herself for being so funny...
Posted 18 years ago by Cruithne3753    [ Reply ]
Wouldn't it be cool to hear "Nothing But Flowers" after this?
Posted 18 years ago by cattgirl813    [ Reply ]
My least favorite song ever.
Posted 18 years ago by rasto    [ Reply ]
bobrk wrote:
Are there any other Joni Mitchell versions?
I'm sure there are some demos, live versions by Joni. I was referring to the gratuitous covers (Amy Grant, Counting Crows, etc).
Posted 18 years ago by redeyespy    [ Reply ]
Prophetic. We've paved paradise, and are starting to pay the price.
Posted 18 years ago by Art_Carnage    [ Reply ]
redeyespy wrote:
The only version you'll ever need.
Are there any other Joni Mitchell versions?
Posted 18 years ago by bobrk    [ Reply ]
What a voice!!
Posted 18 years ago by thefoodoflove    [ Reply ]
The only version you'll ever need.
Posted 18 years ago by redeyespy    [ Reply ]