Written by joni mitchell



I slept last night in a good hotel

I went shopping today for jewels

The wind rushed around the dirty room

And the children let out from their schools

I was standing on a noisy corner

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 fortune

And those velvet curtain calls

I've got a black limousine

And two ladies

Escorting me to the halls

And i play if you have the money

Or if you're a friend to me

But the one man band

By the quick lunch stand

He was playing real good, for free



Nobody stopped to hear him

Though he played so sweet and high

They knew he had never

Been on the tv screen

So they passed his music by

I meant to go over and ask for a song

Maybe put on a harmony

I heard his refrain

As the signal changed

He was still playing real good, for free