For Free

(album: Byrds - 1973)

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

I was standing on a noisy corner
Waiting for the walking green
Across the street he stood, you know he played real good
He was playing real good for free

Now me, I play for fortunes
And for those velvet curtain calls
I got a black limousine and about forty criminals
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 playing real good for free

Nobody stopped to hear him
Though he played so sweet and high
They knew had never beeen 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
An' he was still playing real good for free