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For Free

by Joni Mitchell

on Ladies of the Canyon (1970), The Studio Albums 1968 - 1979 (2012), Archives Volume 4: Asylum Years (1976-1980) (2024)

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 got a black limosine and two gentlemen
Escorting me to the halls
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

Nobody stoped 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
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