What is the history behind the song Big Yellow Taxi?

Mitchell got the idea for the song during a visit to Hawaii. She looked out of her hotel window at the spectacular Pacific mountain scenery, and then down to a parking lot.

Joni said this about writing the song to journalist Alan McDougall in the early 1970s:

“I wrote 'Big Yellow Taxi' on my first trip to Hawaii. 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... this blight on paradise. That's when I sat down and wrote the song.”

The song is known for its environmental concern (from the lyrics "They paved paradise to put up a parking lot", "Hey farmer, farmer, put away that DDT now") and sentimental sound. The line, "Took all the trees, put 'em in a tree museum/And charged the people a dollar and a half just to see 'em" refers to Foster Botanical Garden in downtown Honolulu, which is a living museum of tropical plants, some rare and endangered.

In the song's final verse, the political gives way to the personal. Mitchell recounts the departure of her "old man" in the titular "big yellow taxi", which may refer to the old Metro Toronto Police patrol cars that until 1986 were painted yellow.[citation needed] In many covers the departed one may be interpreted as variously a boyfriend, a husband, or a father. The literal interpretation is that he is walking out on the singer by taking a taxi; otherwise it is assumed he is being taken away by the authorities.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Yellow_Taxi#Mitch...

http://archive.southcoasttoday.com/daily/12-96/12-...

http://web.archive.org/web/20080616114102/http://w...

http://jonimitchell.com/

"Big Yellow Taxi" was written and performed by Joni Mitchell. She recorded the song as a single and as an album track in 1970. The single was a hit in her native Canada and in Australia and the UK. It charted in the US as featured on her album "Ladies of the Canyon"; and in 1975, she released a live version of the song which climbed to #24 ("Billboard").

The song has been covered by a number of artists, including a group called The Neighborhood (1970), Amy Grant, Vanessa Carlton and Counting Crows. Janet Jackson recorded it in 1997 for her hit album "Got Til It's Gone." Joni Mitchell included a slightly revised version of this song on her 2007 album "Shine." She explained why to "Mojo" magazine February 2008: "It fits the record. I didn't have to change anything except the price, which went from 'a buck and a half' to an arm and a leg."

From an interview with the LOS ANGELES TIMES, Mitchell said:

"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... this blight on paradise. That's when I sat down and wrote the song."

The line in the song, "Took all the trees, put 'em in a tree museum, charged the people a dollar and a half just to see 'em," refers to Foster Gardens, a place in Waikiki which is a tree museum. DDT is an insecticide which is put onto plants. The insects get poisoned by the insecticide, the birds eat the insect, the bird's eggs are brittle when they are laid, the bird tries to sit on it, and they crack. This is why bald eagles are now endangered.

The line, "They paved paradise and put up the parking lot" refers to the destruction of The Garden of Allah, a Hollywood hotel renowned for its rowdy celebration parties.

For additional information, please see:

http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2915

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t79hUuE2vuI [live performance of song by Joni Mitchell]

http://www.heartwoodguitar.com/chords/joni-mitchel...

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/joni-mitchell-p4930...

Good luck!

Sick puppies, linkin park.. I havent listened to them in a while though.. Uhmmm slipknot, trapt- headstrong being my fav all time song, foo fighters, AFI, adelitas way, and about ten million i cant think of right at the moment but hope itll be enough. But I<3 three days grace:) oh wait!! And theres Aiden too.:) Some of them are a little..rougher than some other bands but they remind me of those bands you listed