He Played Real Good For Free

by Joni Mitchell

sung by David Crosby on the Crosby, Stills and Nash album "Allies"



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

I was waiting for the walking green

Across the street he stood

And he played real good

He was playin' real good for free



Me I play for fortunes

And those velvet curtain calls

I got a black limousine and about thirty-seven criminal

Escorting me to this 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, I say nobody, nobody stopped to hear him

Though he played so sweet and high

They knew they had never seen him on their TV screen

So they passed his music by



Me I meant to go over ask for a song

Maybe put on a harmony

I heard his refrain as the signals changed

He was still playin' real good for free