I love how songs can tell a story, and one song that I really like is Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi.”

When I was a kid and heard this song on the “oldies” station, I didn’t understand what this song meant.

However, once I got older, I understood the meaning and how important the message of the song is.

I absolutely love being in nature whether it is swimming, kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, hiking, running, or just simply sitting in the grass and enjoying nature’s sights and sounds.

Whenever I hear “Big Yellow Taxi,” I like to reflect on what Joni Mitchell is saying. The first verse makes me think about how much natural beauty gets destroyed for the sake of advancement. It makes me question how we as a society can determine whether or not it is worth it to destroy nature. Under what circumstances is it necessary?

The second verse makes me think about how nature is missing in some areas, and if you want to enjoy nature you have to travel outside of those areas to enjoy it, for example a state park. I grew up in the countryside and had a huge backyard with a pond. Being outside and enjoying nature was normal for me as a kid. However, I know that some people don’t grow up with yards and the opportunity to climb trees and catch frogs whenever they want. I feel grateful that I had this luxury.

The third verse makes me think about the “organic” and “natural” craze that we see nowadays. It’s interesting to me that now a “selling point” for a food product is that it does not contain chemicals. Why were people okay with eating products full of chemicals in the first place? Should people be concerned about the effects of pesticides?

The final verse again relates back to advancement. The modes people use to travel have definitely changed over the years. Can you imagine what it would be like if people were still traveling by horse and buggy? 😮 It’s definitely easier to travel now. 😉 Do you ever think about how much the modes of transportation we use nowadays affect our “paradise”?

What does this song make you think about when you hear it?

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
And put them in a tree museum
And they charged all the people
A dollar and a half 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 they put up a parking lot

Hey farmer farmer
Put away that D.D.T. now
Give 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
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 paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
They paved paradise
Put up a parking lot