well it s a paved paradise they put up a parking lot with a big hotel a boutique and a swinging hot spot now 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 them in a tree museum then they charged the people dollar and a half just to see em and don t it always seem to go that you don t know what you ve got till it s gone and they paved paradise put up a parking lot hey farmer farmer put away that d d t now give me the spots on my apples but leave me the birds and the bees please now don t it always seem to go that you don t know what you ve got till it s gone they paved paradise and they put up a parking lot well late last night she heard the screen door slam and the big yellow taxi took away her old man how about that well don t it always seem to go that you don t know what you ve got till it s gone and they paved paradise put up a parking lot they paved paradise put up a parking lot paved paradise put up a parking lot they put up a parking lot yeah they put up a parking lot put up a parking lot put up a parking lot stop it they put up a parking lot yeah i said stop it no more parking lots build some parks plant some trees