FOR FREE
Joni Mitchell


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
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
Escorting me to the halls
And I 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

Nobody stopped to hear him
Though he played so sweet and
high
They knew he had never
Been on their T.V.
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



(Contributed by Andy & Mogg - November 2002)