[Verse 1]
I slept last night in the Fairmont hotel
I went shopping today for jewels
Wind rushed around in the dirty town
And the children let out from the schools

[Chorus]
I was standing on a noisy corner
I was waiting for the walking green
'Cross the street he stood, and he played real good
On his clarinet for free

[Verse 2]
Now, me, I play for fortune
And those velvet curtain calls
I got a black limousine and sixteen gentlemen
Escorting me to these halls

[Chorus]
And I'll play if you have the money
Or if you're some kind of friend to me
But the one-man band by the quick lunch stand
Hе was playing real good for free

[Verse 3]
Nobody stopped to hear him
Though hе played so sweet and high
They knew he had never been on their TV
So they passed his good music by

[Chorus]
I meant to go over to him and ask for a song
Maybe put on some kind of harmony
I heard his refrain as that signal changed
He was playing real good for free