For Free

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 fortunes,
and those velvet curtain calls.
I got a black limosine and two gentlemen
escorting me to the halls.
And i'll 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 stoped 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 not 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.