Big Yellow Taxi

Pink Hotel: Based on other clues in the song the Pink Hotel in this song is most likely the Royal Hawaiian in Honolulu. The romantic and legendary Pink Palace, built in 1927 is the landmark hotel on Waikiki Beach. Here, amidst serene gardens behind the coral-colored facade, you can still find the special ambiance of old Hawaii and its gracious island hospitality. The Royal Hawaiian has 526 beautifully appointed rooms, located in either the elegant Historic Building or the modern Tower Wing.

Tree Museum: Dave Donelly, reporter for Honolulu's Star-Bulletin, informs us that: "'Big Yellow Taxi', by the way, was written about Hawaii and the "tree museum" she sang about where they charged you to see the trees was Foster Botanical Garden" New fees to see the trees? Admission: $5.00 - General, 13 years and older $3.00 - Resident of Hawaii, 13 years and older with ID $1.00 - Child, 6 to 12 years old FREE - Child, 5 years old and under (must be with adult) $25.00 - Annual family pass

DDT is a persistent organochlorine pesticide and is largely responsible for the great decrease in the reproductive capabilities and consequently in the populations of fish-eating birds, such as the bald eagle, brown pelican, and osprey. Because of DDT's effects on birds, the chemical has not been used in the United States since 1972, and can no longer be used except in cases of public health emergency. At the time Joni wrote this lyric (1967-68), the continued use of DDT was quite controversial. DDT is still used in several other areas of the world. 

» Would you like to help annotate the lyrics to Big Yellow Taxi?
     Send us a note with your idea, and thanks!

» Guitar chords by Mark Domyancich
» Guitar chords by Harlan Thompson and Howard Wright
» Guitar chords by Robin Waite
 

Akasa (from "Festival Folk Sing Joni Mitchell" - 2010)
Alan Tew Orchestra (from "These I Like" - 1971)
Alberstein, Chava  (- )
Alexander , Monty (from "Taste Of Freedom" - 1970)
Alías, Celeste  (from "La Veu De La Guitarra" - 2011)
Alibrandi, Lisa  (from "Midnight Sky" - 2000)
Allagash (from "The Last Gig March 3, 1986" - 2002)
Amodeo-Vickery, Tess (- 2012)
Ann, Keren (- 2003)
Anna I (from "Anna I" - 2004)
Anneloes Verveld Combo (from "(unreleased live recording)" - 2003)
Anschell, Bill  (from "Figments" - 2011)
Applegate, Bob (from "Applegeezer" - 2003)
Aquila Rose & Idana Valdes  (from "Rhythms del Mundo - Classics" - 2009)
Avenue (- 1970)
Azevedo, Julie de (from "Pray For Rain Concert Tour" - 1996)
Ballroom Dance Orchestra (from "Best Years Of Our Lives" - 2005)
Banks, Tommy (from "Tommy Banks Jazz Band w/ Big Miller At The Montreux Jazz Festival " - 1978)
Barbarino, Linda (- )
Barnes, Ilene (from "Two Sides" - 2010)
Basset, Karen (- 2012)
Baxter, Gwen (from "Peaceful Women" - )
BB Band (from "Those 70's Songs 1970-1" - 1999)
Be Sharp (from "De Finalisten" - 2006)
Beach, Cat (from "Love Me Out Loud" - 2009)
Beazley, Del (from "World's Got To Choose" - 1995)
Beyond The Influences (BeTI) (from "45 Single" - )
Big Country (from "Eclectic" - 1996)
Big Yellow Taxi (from "The Music of Joni Mitchell (demo)" - 2002)
Big Yellow Taxi (from "A Tribute To Joni Mitchell" - 2002)
Big Yellow Taxi (from "Big Yellow Taxi " - 2012)
Bligan, Liz (from "For The Fun Of It" - 2007)
Bloomsbury Pops (from "Modern Lounge" - 1997)
Blue Lightning (from "Live at the Aladdin Theater" - 2007)
Brennan, Maire (from "Misty Eyed Adventures" - 1994)
Brian Kirk and The Jirks (- )
Brooks, Dave (- )
Bruce, Lana (from "Lana" - 2011)
Buckingham, Lindsey & Mick Fleetwood (from "A Case Of Joni" - )
Bukeka Shoals with Ken Lovern's OJT (from "OJT + B" - 2006)
Butler, Harold (- 1977)
Buzz Toyz (- 2004)
C.S. Heath & Jonas James  (from "Spiritual Guitar" - 2005)
Campbell, Tracey (from "Gold" - 1997)
Canadian Suite (from "Coast to Coast" - 2002)
Caplinger, Dennis (from "Pickin' On The Counting Crows" - 2005)
Captain Smartypants (from "Undercover" - 2004)
Captain Vic (from "Goodnight Ladies" - 2002)
Carroll, Liane (from "Live At The Listening Room" - 2000)
Central Park Band (from "A Bite From The Big Apple" - 1997)
Charly Records Studio Group (from "Almost Pop: House Of Love" - 2006)
Chasing Memories (from "Separating The Whites From The Colors (EP)" - 2010)
Cher (from "Live And Loud, Volume II" - 2005)
Chris Lee & Jenny Howe (from "Second Take" - 2007)
Claire Lawrence Harmonica (- 1975)
Clarke, Rona (from "Utopian Dream" - 1975)
Claytone, Clara (- 2013)
Code One (from "Rockin the Streets" - )
Colgate Swingin' Gates (from "Gateways" - 2002)
Colvin, Shawn with Mary Chapin Carpenter & James Taylor (from "An All-Star Tribute to Joni Mitchell (TV Broadcast)" - 2000)
Corporate Cash Cows (- )
Cossu, Barbara (- 2013)
Counting Crows (from "Hard Candy" - 2002)
Counting Crows (featuring Vanessa Carlton) (from "CD-single" - 2003)
Crawford, Allan (from "Sounds Like Hits No. 12" - 1970)
CU Buffoons (from "Under The Arches" - 2012)
Dan & Lyla (- )
Dangerous Folk (from "Dangerous Folk " - 2010)
Dark One Lite (from "A Guitar Tribute To Counting Crows" - 2004)
Dassin, Joe  (from "Joe Dassin" - 1970)
Davies, Colin (- )
Davies, Julian (from "Julian Davies" - 2004)
Davis, Rachael (- 2003)
Dee, Charlie (from "A Tribute To Joni Mitchell Live At Kriterion" - 2009)
Defrenchy Duo (- )
Denjean, Claude & Synthesizer (from "Open Circuit" - 1973)
DesLauriers, Marsha  (from "Not Too Far" - 2003)
Devany Jr., David  (- 2006)
Diaz, Gabriela (- )
Dig It All  (from "Third" - 2013)
Dimmick, Sharyn (from "Paris" - 2009)
Dixon, Carl (from "One Voice, Two Hands" - 2003)
DMX Krew (from "A Tribute to Robert Moog" - 2007)
Douglas, Shirley (from "A Heart On The Loose " - 1980)
Dr Bluegrass & The Illbilly 8 (- 2013)
Dylan, Bob (from "Dylan" - 1973)
Earthlings Electric Washboard Band (from "Earth Day Every Day " - 2010)
Eddie From Ohio (from "(Live Performance)" - )
Elmerhassel (from "Honour Your Parents" - 1991)
Engling, Gail  (from "Just Because..." - 2012)
English, Hannah (- )
Erelli, Mark (- 2013)
Exit 9 (from "reissued" - 2007)
Face2Face (from "Higher Love" - 1999)
Faegre, Dierdre Leah (from "Dreaming Beach Party 4" - 2011)
Faith, Percy  (from "Black Magic Woman" - 1971)
Falciani, Dave (from "Top Ten Radio Dance Mix 24" - 2003)
Feather and Down (from "Revisits" - 2012)
Feddy, Jason (from "Fish On The Moon" - 1993)
Figueiredo, Armando (from "Cruisin' California" - 2008)
Flagman Ahead (from "Panta Rhei - Unplugged '99 - Live IV " - 1999)
Flandez, Warren Dean (from "(single)" - 2011)
Flash Connection (from "Talk To Me" - 2006)
Fletcher, Mary (from "Somewhere......" - 2009)
Gabor, BB  (from "BB Gabor" - 1980)
Get Lucky (- )
Glymur (- )
Grace Acoustic Trio (from "Grace Acoustic Trio" - 2012)
Graham Blvd (from "Top of the Charts 1971" - 2008)
Grant, Amy (from "House of Love" - 1994)
Grant, Lorna (from "Star For A Night" - 2000)
Grean, Lorin  (from "Spinning Gold" - 2000)
Green Day (- )
Grier, Cathy (from "Moonlighting in Key West " - 1988)
Gwildis, Stefan (from "Wünscht du Wärst Hier" - 2008)
Haime, Vera  (from "Came Upon A Child of God" - 2000)
Hamman, Sara (from "Breath By Breath" - 2003)
Harper, Claire (from "All These Plans" - 2005)
Harrington, Paul (from "Songs" - 2010)
Harrison, Carmel (- )
Harvard Opportunes (from "Six Degrees" - 2003)
Henning Olsen Band (from "A Tribute Minus Mitchell" - 2004)
Henry, Nicole (from "So Good, So Right: Nicole Henry Live" - 2013)
Herve, Andre (from "(45 Single)" - 1970)
Het Borghuis Collectief (- 2011)
Higgins, Rachel and Hugh (from "The Best of the 1992 Elandorf Music Festival" - 1992)
Hislop, Andy  (- )
Ho, Daniel (from "Timeless Treasure" - 2006)
Hodge Podge (from "Imaginary Numbers" - )
Holloway, Diane  (from "Stars in Their Ears [Tonight They're Going to Be...] " - 1999)
Hollywood Session Singers (from "T.V. Superhits" - )
Hopeless Romantics  (from "Hopeless Romantics " - 2012)
Hulabahoos (from "Jacked" - 2004)
Hyman , Dick  (from "The Sensuous Piano of Dick Hyman" - 1971)
Ian & Helen C (from "Big Yellow Taxi (A New York Buskers Tale)" - 2004)
In Pieces (- )
Ithacappella (from "Two P's, Two L's" - 2006)
Itsuwa, Mayumi (from "The Show - Best Concert Album '75" - )
Itt (- 2012)
J-Min (from "Korogaru Ringo " - 2007)
J.R. & Sharon (from "Too Many Parades" - 1998)
Jade (from "Fly On Strangewings" - 2003)
Jakubowicz, Martyny  (from "Burzliwy błękit Joanny" - 2013)
Jansen, Leoni (from "Second Wind" - 2008)
Jockel (from "Wasted In The Afternoon" - 1997)
Jon and Sue (from "Before It's Too Late" - )
Kai (from "Feelin' This Way" - 2010)
Kat (- 2009)
Keb' Mo' (from "Big Wide Grin" - 2001)
Kellner, Kelly (from "Little Bird" - 2005)
Kennedy, Brian (from "Songs" - 2006)
Kennedy, Kerrie (from "In My Father's House" - )
Kentucky Express (from "That's Not What Lovin' Is" - )
Kimber, Julie  (- 2011)
Kindred Spirit (from "Free Spirit" - 2000)
King, Chris Thomas  (from "Rise" - 2006)
Konkova, Olga (from "Improvisational Four" - 2009)
Kushibiki, Sayaka (from "Essential" - 2002)
laidbook (from "The Acoustic Issue" - 2010)
Lanzetti, Bernardo  (from "Master Poets" - 1999)
Lapointe, Lauren (from "Decadence - The Best of First Friday 2006" - 2007)
Last Call (from "Straight Up" - 2005)
Lee, Nancy  (from "Crazy Dreams" - 2010)
Lehman, Ted (from "Left Overs" - )
Lemonier, Marion (- )
Leora Cashe & The Ross Taggart Trio  (from "Another Side Now - The Songs of Joni Mitchell" - 2007)
Libman, Jeff (- )
Lilac Sheer with Shay Tochner  (from "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine" - 2010)
Lilac Time (from "Welcome to Hell...Here's Your Accordion (Promo EP)" - 1989)
Lindsay Thomas Morgan  (from "Waiting So Long" - 2007)
Little Gas (from "Wove EP" - )
Little, Stephanie Tucker (from "When Sea Shells Dance" - 2007)
Loach, Vickie-Maree (from "All Play" - )
Loaded Boxers (- )
London Pro Musica Choir (from "Songs Of The Land" - 2008)
Lorencová, Zdenka  (from "Tady jsem" - 1975)
Los Valldemosa (from "Los Valldemosa" - )
Lotus (from "The Dance Goes On" - 1994)
Maine Steiners (from "Alive!" - 2005)
Makin' Whoopee (from "Makin' Whoopee Live" - )
Maniscalco, Chuck  (- 2005)
Maria Pia De Vito, Danilo Rea,Enzo Pietropaoli, Aldo Romano (from "So Right" - 2008)
Martin, Lynn (from "England's Top Of The Pops" - )
Martini, Mia (from "I Miei Compagni di Viaggio" - 1996)
McDonald, Shelagh (- )
McKenzie, Sarah  (from "Close Your Eyes" - 2012)
McLachlan, Sarah & Lilith Fair (from "(Live)" - )
McNaughton, Eddie (- 2011)
McQueen, Valerie (- )
Me And Them (- )
Mead, Gale  (from "Live at Jessel's" - 2007)
Megalomaniacs (from "Melts In Your Mouth" - 2001)
Meinhardt Merry (from "Life" - 2012)
Meltini (- )
Mezek, Aleksander  (from "Kje So Tiste Steznice" - 1977)
Mhairi, Brigid (- 2007)
Michael & Jello (from "Just Dance; Pop Songs For Families" - 2013)
Milk And Honey (from "Still Showing" - 2003)
Miller, Betsy  (from "Becology" - 2013)
Min (from "Itch" - 1998)
Mitchell, Katy (from "Baby It's You" - 2005)
Mitchell, Scott (- )
Mixed Company (from "Tree Museum" - 2004)
Mockingbird (from "A Fearless Day - Mockingbird's 4th Album" - 2007)
Modern Folk Quartet (from "Highway 70" - 1999)
Moore, Bill (from "Bill Moore" - 1969)
Mosaic Whispers (from "Defrosted" - 2004)
Moser, Kathy (from "Some 1 Like U" - 2009)
Myhre, Wenche (- )
Nee (from "All Fans On Deck" - )
Nena (from "Cover Me" - 2007)
Nereide (from "Nereide sings Joni Mitchell" - 2010)
Nicholas, Tomas  (from "Lagunitas To Cazadero" - 2010)
Niegratschka, Klaus  (from "Good Enough For Me" - 2000)
No Fixed Abode (from "Hold The Cover" - )
Norma Winstone with the NDR Bigband (from "It's Later Than You Think" - 2006)
Northeastern University Downbeats (from "Downbeat Crossing" - 2004)
Not Too Sharp (from "May Contain Nuts" - 2011)
O'Brien, Paul (from "Long May You Sing" - 2013)
Parallel (- 2011)
Patrick McGinley & Family Style  (from "Patrick, Family and Friends" - 2001)
Paul Tillotson The Love Trio (from "Tequila Time" - 2005)
Paul Tillotson The Love Trio (from "Lindy Hop Blues" - 2008)
People Power Band (from "Green Bandwagon" - 2010)
Piano Tribute Players (from "Piano Tribute To Counting Crows" - 2009)
Pigg, Gabe (from "Top Pop 2" - 2003)
Pinhead Gunpowder (from "Fahizah EP" - 1992)
Pinto, Lynn (from "Broadway: Romances Manhattan" - 2002)
Rachel Z Trio (from "Moon At The Window" - 2002)
Rankin, John (from "PazFest - The New Orleans Tribute to Joni Mitchell at the Howlin' Wolf" - 2002)
Ray Kelley Band (from "Hold My Hand" - 1999)
Reed, Catherine (from "As I Am" - 2003)
Richardson, Monica (from "Hand Stories" - 2007)
Saline Fiddlers (from "Kaleidoscope " - 2010)
Sally Barker - Joni Mitchell Project (from "Conversation: The Joni Tapes" - 2010)
Santos, Paolo (from "Acoustic Night Out" - 2003)
Satin Sheets (from "Dick Syncona Smith/Satin Sheets/Reg Gibson/The J-J's" - 1975)
Saunter, Riddim  (from "7" Single" - 2007)
Schettino, Gemma (- 2004)
Schinkel, Gerd (from "Treibgut Im Wind" - )
Scott, Lorraine (from "Back To The Garden" - 1992)
Shadows and Light (- )
Sharino, Alison (from "Alison Sharino" - 2003)
Sheer, Ireen (from "(45 single)" - 1970)
Simon and Jane Gomez (from "Ballarat Rose" - 1978)
Sklar, Brian  (from "AAIIEE!!" - 2003)
Skonberg, Bria  (from "So Is the Day" - 2012)
Sly & Robbie (from "Foundation" - 2007)
Smoothies (- )
Stacey (- )
Staring, Roland (- 2004)
Steel Sunrise Steel Band (from "Out of the Fire and Into the Pan" - 2001)
Sugar Beats (from "Really Cool Songs" - 1993)
Sunday Folk (from "Monday Songs" - 1981)
Supple, Brooke (from "Francfranc Presents Space Program [Sunshiny] Compiled by Old Nick aka Dj Hasebe " - 2012)
Susan Govali and Terry Disley (from "A Moment In Time" - 2008)
Sutton, Tierney  (from "After Blue" - 2013)
Suzanne M. Sheridan & And the Suzanne Sheridan Band (from "Suzanne Sheridan Sings the Music of Joni Mitchell & Leonard Cohen" - 2012)
Tabitha Fair & The Little Monsters (- 2009)
Tangled Up In Blue (from "Unraveled" - 2004)
Tar Heel Voices (from "Deuces Wild" - 2000)
Tara Scheyer & The Mud Puppy Band (from "HiFi Felix Vol. 2" - 2009)
Taylor, Richard (from "Richard Taylor" - 2009)
The Aaron James Collective (- 2014)
The Acoustic Guitar Troubadours (from "Acoustic Instrumental Memories" - 2009)
The Albion Band (from "Songs From The Shows" - 1999)
The Bates College Merimanders (from "On Track" - 1992)
The Chief Whips (from "The Other Creek" - 2007)
The Come Dancing Orchestra (from "Mambo" - 2004)
The Crawfords - Mario Cavallero Et Son Orchestre (from "Hippies Story " - )
The Dartmouth Rockapellas (from "Think On These Things" - 1996)
The DQ of Amherst College (from "Duck Viking Presents" - 2000)
The Enigma Machine (from "Le Bombe Tracks" - 2010)
The Eyewall Band (- 2006)
The Harris Family (from "One, Two, Three" - 2012)
The Hit Crew (from "Drew's Famous Kids Authentic Limbo Party Music" - 2004)
The Hyannis Sound (from "Route 6" - 2005)
The Idea Of North (from "Smile" - 2013)
The Kids Picks Singers (from "Kids Picks Hit Mix" - 2003)
The Luv Handles (- )
The Neighborhood (from "Debut" - 1970)
The New Group (from "Reflective Surface Syndrome" - 2003)
The Paris Studio Orchestra & Singers (from "It Was...1970 (Vol. 3)" - 2008)
The Practicers (from "Smooth & Raw" - 2000)
The Quality Kids (from "Kids Mix 4" - 2003)
The Retards (from "In Memory of the Dead Bird " - )
The Retro Rockets (- )
The Rhythm Method (from "Immaculate Contraception" - )
The Rock Masters (from "Driving Anthems" - 2008)
The Shivers (from "Downtown Sister" - 1991)
The Soundalikes (from "Today's Massive Hits" - 2004)
The Steve Klink Trio (from "Places To Come From, Places To Go" - 2002)
The Sunbeams (from "Easy Like Sunday Morning" - 2011)
The Sweets (- 2010)
The Swinging 'Gates (from "Unhinged" - 1987)
The Take (from "Take One" - )
The Tindalls (from "Family Album" - 2005)
The Tony Chappell Orchestra (from "(45 Single)" - )
The Ukaye Ukes  (from "Blue Skies" - 2011)
The Wright Kids (from "Blue Skies" - 2011)
The Yello Allstars (from "Alles Gelb " - )
Therapy (from "One Night Stand" - 1973)
Thibeault, Fabienne  (from "Made In Quebec" - 2004)
Thistle, Charlotte (- )
Thomas Kölling Acoustic Jazz&Song (from "More Of That Kind " - 2005)
Throwing Stuff (- 2013)
Timmer, Mirjam (from "Motel Westcoast" - 2007)
Tommy Banks Big Band  (from "Jazz Montreux 1978" - 1978)
Tous les oiseaux d’Europe  (from "Birdland" - 2011)
Toxic Audio (from "Toxic Audio" - )
Tres Tigres Tristes  (from "Tres Tigres Tristes " - 2002)
Triple Trio (from "Lipids (phats & oils)" - 1997)
Two Tight (from "Every Little Thing" - 2004)
Ty & Ayesha (- )
Uncle Seth (- )
Vallance, Joanne (- )
Vehkavaara, Kenny & Silvio Simone (from "Peace, Love & Guitar" - 2001)
Vikki and James (- )
Vincent's Chair (- 2002)
Vinnick, Sheppard & Harte (from "My Favourite Shirt" - 2007)
Voce (from "So Many Ways" - 1996)
Volker Niehusmann & Christiane Weber (from "Another Blue" - 1997)
Walker, Debi Sander (from "If You Could See Me Now" - 2008)
Warwick, Rachael (- 2013)
When The Cat's Away (from "(45 single)" - 1989)
White Hot (- 2010)
White On Black (from "White On Black" - 1974)
Whyton, Wally (from "The World of Wally Whyton" - 1972)
Will Taylor And Strings Attached (from "Back To The Garden: A Tribute To Joni Mitchell" - 2007)
Wilmot, Linda  (from "Pillow at 4:20" - 2000)
Wilson, Julie (from "New Love" - 2002)
Winch, Ray (from "Live at The Sacred Bean" - 2001)
Wojtal, Liz (from "Better Days" - )
Wong, Susan (from "Step Into My Dreams" - 2010)
Yager, Andy (- 2007)
Yard Onions (from "Tentacle" - )
Yarema, Tyler  (from "Dinner Party - Popular Music With A Jazzy Twist" - 2003)
Yarushina, Alyona (- 2013)
Yoshiko, Goshima  (from "Now & Forever #2" - 2001)
Youmou-to-Ohana (from "Live In Living '09" - 2012)
Young, Justin (from "One Foot On Sand" - 2003)
Yung, Samara (from "July Rain" - 2011)
Zilbersmith, Carla (from "Uncovered" - 2009)
Zirkuskapelle, Robiano  (from "Funky Weekend" - )
» [more information on recordings by other artists]