Big Yellow Taxi

#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
#------------------------------------------------------------------------------##
From: Harlan L Thompson 

 

BIG YELLOW TAXI- Joni Mitchell

TUNING: 
 E 
 B 
 E 
 Ab 
 B 
 E


 A  
 Asus4 
 A 
 Asus4 
 A  
 B 
 Bsus4 
 B 
 Bsus4 
 B  
 E 
 Esus4 
 E 
 Esus4 
 E
       
 A                             
 E     
 Esus4  
 E  
 Esus4  
 E
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot
         
 A              
 B                     
 E
With a pink hotel, a boutique and a swingin' hot spot

CHORUS:
 
 E
Don't it always seem to go
          
 A                                     (n.
 C.)
That you don't know what you've got till it's gone
       
 A                 
 B                
 E
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot
  
 Esus4 
 E  
 Esus4        
 E      
 Esus4 
 E  
 Esus4        
 E
(Choo     bop bop bop bop, choo     bop bop bop bop)


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
CHORUS

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
CHORUS

Late last night I heard the screen door slam
And a big yellow taxi took away my old man
CHORUS TWICE (with only one chooo bop... at each end)

They paved paradise, put up a parking lot (choo bop bop bop bop)
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot


     
 E    
 A    
 B   
 Esus4 
 Asus4 
 Bsus4
E  --0----5----7----0----5----7-----|
B  --0----5----7----0----5----7-----|
G# --0----5----7----1----6----8-----|
E  --0----5----7----0----5----7-----|
B  --0----5----7----2----7----9-----|
E  --0----5----7----0----0----7-----|

NOTE: I don't actually know if these chords are "sus" chords, but I had
to call them something!  Also, on the first two lines of the chorus and
frequently on the verse, it is better to somewhat muffle the chords so
that the rhythm can be heard but the actual notes barely heard.  Also,
the song can be played in regular tuning with the same chords, but I
think it sounds much better this way (and this is what J.M. actually does).
Also, please post if you know any J.M. songs in their actual
tuning.  I hear that of all her guitar songs, she only did around
two of them in standard tuning!
(from Ladies of the Canyon, 1970)
(sent by Harlan at harlant@hawaii.edu)