Big Yellow Taxi

written by: Joni Mitchell
orginally performed by: Joni Mitchell
performed live by: Sarah McLachlan & Lilith Fair artists

Lyrics

They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a 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
And put up a parking lot

They took all the trees
Put ’em 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
And put up a parking lot

Hey farmer farmer
Put away that d.d.t. now
I’ve 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 it’s gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

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
And put up a parking lot

 

Appears on

Lilith Fair: A Celebration Of Women In Music DVD (2001)

Ladies of the Canyon (by Joni Mitchell / 1970)

 

Versions

 

Compilations

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Credits

 

Collaborations

 

Trivia/Notes

– Sarah played this song together with the Lilith Fair ladies on alot of the 1997-1999 Lilith Fair shows.

 

Sarah says

 

Video