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Big Yellow Taxi

Chords

5.03,215 votes

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Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

[Intro]
G      G      A      A
D7     D7     D7     D7
[Verse 1]
They Gpaved paradise and put up a parking Dlot
with a Gpink hotel, a bAoutique and a swinDgin' hot spot.
[Chorus]
DDon't it always Dmaj7seem to go
that you G/Ddon't know what you've got till it's Dgone.
They Gpaved paradise and Aput up a parking Dlot.
[Interlude]
D
[Verse 2]
They Gtook all the trees, put 'em in a tree musDeum
and they Gcharged the people a Adollar and a half just to Dsee 'em.
[Chorus]
DDon't it always Dmaj7seem to go
that you G/Ddon't know what you've got till it's Dgone.
They Gpaved paradise and Aput up a parking Dlot.
[Interlude]
D
[Verse 3]
GHey farmer, farmer, put away that D.D.DT. now,
give me Gspots on my apples but Aleave me the birds and the Dbees, please.
[Chorus 3]
DDon't it always Dmaj7seem to go
that you G/Ddon't know what you've got till it's Dgone.
They Gpaved paradise and Aput up a parking Dlot.
[Interlude]
D
[Verse 4]
GLate last night I heard the screen door Dslam
and a Gbig yellow taxi Atook away my old Dman
[Chorus]
DDon't it always Dmaj7seem to go
that you G/Ddon't know what you've got till it's Dgone.
They Gpaved paradise and Aput up a parking Dlot.D  
DDon't it always Dmaj7seem to go
that you G/Ddon't know what you've got till it's Dgone.
They Gpaved paradise and Aput up a parking Dlot.
[Outro]
DYeah they Gpaved paradise, Aput up a parking Dlot
DI said they Gpaved paradise, Aput up a parking Dlot

All chords in this song (6)

The story behind the song

This song was born from Joni Mitchell's first trip to Hawaii, where she was struck by the contrast between the natural beauty and a paved parking lot. It captures a moment of realization about how paradise can be paved over. The lyrics reflect on environmental themes, lamenting the loss of nature to human development. At its heart, it's a playful yet poignant reflection on appreciating what you have before it's gone.

AI-written from these sources:Big Yellow Taxi — Wikipedia ↗Joni Mitchell — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

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Chord Book

670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com

Big Yellow Taxi

by Joni Mitchell

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Dmaj7

G/D

[Intro]

G G A A

D7 D7 D7 D7

[Verse 1]

G D

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot

G A D

with a pink hotel, a boutique and a swingin' hot spot.

[Chorus]

D Dmaj7

Don't it always seem to go

G/D D

that you don't know what you've got till it's gone.

G A D

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.

[Interlude]

[Verse 2]

G D

They took all the trees, put 'em in a tree museum

G A D

and they charged the people a dollar and a half just to see 'em.

[Chorus]

D Dmaj7

Don't it always seem to go

G/D D

that you don't know what you've got till it's gone.

G A D

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.

[Interlude]

[Verse 3]

G D

Hey farmer, farmer, put away that D.D.T. now,

G A D

give me spots on my apples but leave me the birds and the bees, please.

[Chorus 3]

D Dmaj7

Don't it always seem to go

G/D D

that you don't know what you've got till it's gone.

G A D

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.

[Interlude]

[Verse 4]

G D

Late last night I heard the screen door slam

G A D

and a big yellow taxi took away my old man

[Chorus]

D Dmaj7

Don't it always seem to go

G/D D

that you don't know what you've got till it's gone.

G A D D

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.

D Dmaj7

Don't it always seem to go

G/D D

that you don't know what you've got till it's gone.

G A D

They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.

[Outro]

D G A D

Yeah they paved paradise, put up a parking lot

D G A D

I said they paved paradise, put up a parking lot

About Big Yellow Taxi Chords by Joni Mitchell

Learn how to play Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Big Yellow Taxi chords”, “Big Yellow Taxi guitar chords”, or “Joni Mitchell Big Yellow Taxi chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Big Yellow Taxi chords and for experienced players who want accurate Big Yellow Taxi lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, A, D7, D, Dmaj7, G/D.

FAQ — Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell

How do I play "Big Yellow Taxi" by Joni Mitchell on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Big Yellow Taxi" by Joni Mitchell on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "Big Yellow Taxi" by Joni Mitchell free?

Yes. The chords for "Big Yellow Taxi" by Joni Mitchell are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Big Yellow Taxi" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Big Yellow Taxi" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Big Yellow Taxi"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Big Yellow Taxi" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Big Yellow Taxi" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Big Yellow Taxi" by Joni Mitchell with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Joni Mitchell below.

What key is "Big Yellow Taxi" in?

The chords for "Big Yellow Taxi" show the original chord names (including G, A, D7, D, Dmaj7, G/D). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.