Who said the saying "you don't really know what you got till its gone"

Question

I am doing a speech and i need to know who said it please help.

Answer 1

I am an "oldie but goodie," and the first time that I heard that true saying was when I listened to the wise lyrics of a song written and recorded by Joni Mitchell in March of 1970.  The song is titled, "Big Yellow Taxi."  The song was released by Reprise on her third album, "Ladies of the Canyon."

The lyrics follow [I have emphasized the lines that match the saying]:

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

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!

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

Late last night

I heard the screen door slam

And a big yellow taxi

Took away my old man

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

Enjoy the song performed by Joni Michell:

http://www.last.fm/music/Joni+Mitchell/+...