REAL GOOD 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 for free.

Now me I play for fortune

and those velvet curtain calls.

I've got a black limousine

and two gentleman

escorting me to these halls.

And I play if you have the money

or if you're some kind of 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 TV.

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

- Joni Mitchell