[Verse 1]

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

[Chorus 1]

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

[Verse 2]

Now me I play for fortunes

And those velvet curtain calls

I got a black limousine and two gentlemen

Escorting me to the halls

[Chorus 2]

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

[Verse 3]

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

[Chorus 3]

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