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 their 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've got a black limousine and two gentlemen Who escort me through these halls
And I'll play if you got the money Or if you're a friend to me But the one-man band by the quick lunch stand He's been playing real good, for free ♪ Nobody stopped to hear him Though he played so sweet and high They knew he had never been on the 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