For Free
Joni Mitchell
I slept last night in a good hotel I went shopping today for jewels The wind rushed around the dirty town And the children let out from their schools I was standing on a noisy corner I was waiting for the walking green Across the street he stood And he played real good On his clarinet for free Now me I play for fortunes And those velvet curtain calls I got a black limousine and about two gentleman Escorting me to this halls And I'll play if you have some money Or if you're a friend to me But that one-man band by the quick lunch stand He was just playin'real good for free Nobody stopped to hear him Though he played so sweet and high H knew he had never been on the TV But he passed his music by Me I meant to go over ask for a song Maybe put on a harmony I heard his refrain as the signals changed He was playin'real good for free