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

I was standing on a noisy corner
Waiting for the walking green
Across the street he stood
And he played real good
And he was playin' real good for free

Me I play for fortunes
And these velvet curtain calls
I got a black limousine and the finest ladies
Escorting me to these 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' rеal good for free

And nobody, nobody stopped to hear him
Though he playеd so sweet and so high
They knew he had never been on the TV screen
So they passed his music by
I meant to go over and ask for a song
Maybe put on a harmony
I still hear his refrain as the signal changed
He was just playin' real good for free