joni mitchell and big yellow taxi
... Mitchell’s reference to DDT in the verse is an indication of her objection to artificial pesticides as she states vehemently: “Put away that DDT now”. The popularisation and overproduction of DDT began in the 1950s when it was hailed as a modern miracle, due to its ability to increase crop yields and decrease cost. It was not until former biologist Rachel Carson published evidence of the side effects of DDT in her book “Silent Spring” in 1962 that the public began to wake up to the dangers of the chemical. Negative effects included environmental pollution and the death of significant wildlife however public protest led to the suspension of its use in 1969 and its eventual ban in 1972. The most famous lines of the song: “They paved paradise/ And put up a parking lot.” indicate Mitchell’s concern about the increasing development of the countryside to make way for factories and housing. The image of the ‘big yellow taxi’ is also a powerful one as it embodies the idea of the increased urbanisation of rural areas. This mirrors the widespread public recognition of the need to protect the environment against pollution and overdevelopment. At this time there was also a growth in public lobbying organisations and government agencies formed to aid environmental initiatives, such as the creation of Greenpeace in 1971 to protest against America’s nuclear testing. In “Big Yellow Taxi” Joni Mitchell correctly identifies the overriding environmental issues which had infiltrated the psyche of her generation leading to an increased awareness of the state of our planet. The lines “you don’t kno...