Couplet 1

They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel a boutique
And a swinging hot spot

Refrain

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
Shoo bop bop bop bop
Shoo bop bop bop

Couplet 2

They took all the trees
And put 'em in a tree museum
And then they charged all the people
Twenty-five bucks just to see 'em

Refrain

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
Shoo bop bop bop bop
Shoo bop bop bop

Couplet 3

Hey farmer farmer
Put away your DDT now
Give me spots on my apples
But leave me
The birds and the bees
Please

Refrain

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

Tag

They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

Refrain

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
Shoo bop bop bop

Couplet 4

Late last night I heard
The screen door slam
And a big yellow taxi
Carried off my old man

Refrain

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
Shoo bop bop bop

Tag

They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
Shoo bop bop bop

Tag

Hey steam rolled paradise
And put up a parking lot