[Verse 1]
They paved paradise
Put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique
And a swingin' hot spot

[Chorus]
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you got 'til it's gone?
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot

[Verse 2]
They took all the trees
And put 'em in a tree museum
And they charged all the people
A dollar and a half just to see 'em

[Chorus]
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you got 'til it's gone?
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot

[Verse 3]
Hey farmer, farmer
Put away that DDT now
Give me spots on my apples
Leave me the birds and the bees, please
[Chorus]
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you got 'til it's gone?
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot

[Verse 4]
Late last night
I heard the screen door slam
And a big yellow taxi
Took away my old man

[Chorus]
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you got 'til it's gone?
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot

[Outro]
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot