| I slept last night in a good hotel |
| I went shopping today for jewels |
| The wind rushed around in the dirty town |
| And the children let out from the 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 gentlemen |
| 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 their T.V. |
| 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 playing real good, for free. |