Words and Music by Joni Mitchell



I slept last night in a good hotel

I went shopping today for jewels

The wind rushed around the lonely town

And the children let out

From their schools



I was standing on a lonely corner

Waiting for the walking green

Across the street he stood

Y'know he played real good

On his clarinet

For free



Now me I play for fortunes

And for those velvet

Curtain calls

I got a black limousine

And about forty criminal

Escorting me to

The 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

They knew he had never been

On their TV screen

So they passed his music by



Me, I meant to go over

And ask for a song

Maybe put on a harmony

I heard his refrain

As the signals changed

And he was still playin' real good

For free.