For Free

Is Growing Old

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

~~~ “For Free” (Joni Mitchell, 1970 – listen to a live version)