Jmitchell - Big Yellow Taxi guitar tab

BIG YELLOW TAXI- Joni Mitchell

TUNING: E B E G# B E

A Asus A Asus A B Bsus B Bsus B E Esus E Esus E

A E Esus E Esus 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

Esus E Esus E Esus E Esus 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 Esus Asus Bsus

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)