Big Yellow Taxi - Joni Mitchell

On the 7th of November 1943 Joni Michell (Roberta Anderson) was born  In Alberta Canada. She is one of the best Songwriters of the 20th Century and her songs include, Both Sides Now, Woodstock, Chelsea Morning, Free man in Paris and Big Yellow Taxi.
"Big Yellow Taxi" sounds such a happy song but the lyrics are quite dark.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgMEPk6fvpg

"I wrote 'Big Yellow Taxi' on my first trip to Hawai'i. I took a taxi to the hotel and when I woke up the next morning, I threw back the curtains and saw these beautiful green mountains in the distance. Then, I looked down and there was a parking lot as far as the eye could see, and it broke my heart"

"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"