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 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 clairinet for free
Now me I play for fortune
And those velvet curtain calls
I've got a black limousine and two ladies
Escorting me to the halls
And I'll play If you have the money
Or if you're a friend to me-ee-ee
But the one man band by the quick lunch stand
He was playing real good for free
Well Nobody stopped to hear him
Though he played so sweet and high
And they knew he had never been on their TV screen
So they passed his music by
Well 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 still playing real good for free