He Played Real Good For Free Lyrics

Words and Music by Joni Mitchell

I slept last night in a good hotel
I went shopping today for jewels
The wind rushed around the lonely town
And the children let out
From their schools

I was standing on a lonely corner
Waiting for the walking green
Across the street he stood
Y'know he played real good
On his clarinet
For free

Now me I play for fortunes
And for those velvet
Curtain calls
I got a black limousine
And about forty criminal
Escorting me to
The 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' real good
For free

Nobody stopped to hear him
Though he played so sweet
And high
They knew he had never been
On their TV screen
So they passed his music by

Me, I meant to go over
And ask for a song
Maybe put on a harmony
I heard his refrain
As the signals changed
And he was still playin' real good
For free.