For Free

I slept last night in a good hotel

I went shopping today for jewels

The wind rushed around this dirty town

The children let out from their schools

I was standing on a noisy corner

Waiting for the walking green

Across the street he stood

And he played real good

And he was playin' real good for free

Me I play for fortunes

And these velvet curtain calls

I got a black limousine and the finest ladies

Escorting me to these 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' rеal good for free

And nobody, nobody stopped to hear him

Though he playеd so sweet and so high

They knew he had never been on the TV screen

So they passed his music by

I meant to go over and ask for a song

Maybe put on a harmony

I still hear his refrain as the signal changed

He was just playin' real good for free