Big Yellow Taxi vs. Nothing But Flowers

David Byrne performing Nothing but flowers


Lyrics from Nothing But Flowers

Once there were parking lots
Now it's a peaceful oasis
you got it, you got it

This was a Pizza Hut
Now it's all covered with daisies
you got it, you got it

I miss the honky tonks,
Dairy Queens, and 7-Elevens
you got it, you got it

And as things fell apart
Nobody paid much attention
you got it, you got it

I dream of cherry pies,
Candy bars, and chocolate chip cookies
you got it, you got it

We used to microwave
Now we just eat nuts and berries
you got it, you got it
Joni Mitchell performing big yellow taxi


Lyrics from Big Yellow Taxi
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot
With a pink hotel, a boutique
And a swinging hot spot
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
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
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
Till it's gone
They paved paradise
And put up a parking lot

I have always thought that the Talking Heads song nothing but flowers was like a response to joni mitchells call in Big Yellow Taxi. In seeing just some of the images of the wall of fire in the gulf coast I wonder how true the visions put forth in these songs are. Will we finally eliminate all signs of our man made culture only to crave them like the speaker in Nothing but Flowers? or will we marvel at what defines the "natural" environment like the speaker in big yellow taxi?