For Free

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

Waitin' for the walking green

Across the street he stood, you know he played real good

He was playing real good for free

Now me, I play for fortunes

And for those velvet curtain calls

I got a black limousine and about forty criminals

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 playing real good for free

Nobody stopped to hear him

Though he played so sweet and high

They knew had never beeen 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

An' he was still playin' real good for free