One's "underdeveloped wasteland" is someone else's untouched paradise. Particularly someone like Joni Mitchell.
replyWas it that a big, giant, horrible wasteland because it was undeveloped? That is, was there something bad about it other than being undeveloped? Personally, I love living in the city AND land in its natural state.
replyAlso, GP was quoting a song lyric.
I think the best intro to LA is Cadillac Desert by Marc Reisner (it's really about the entire West and its relationship to water, but I think the first few chapters explain LA better than many other books.)
replyFunny. It's concrete hell.
replyIt's part of a very popular song from the 70s by Joni Mitchell called "Big Yellow Taxi".
replyCounting Crows did a cover in 2002.