Playing for Free by Joni Mitchell
I slept last night in a good hotel
I went shopping today for jewels
The wind rushed around in the dirty town
And the children let out from the schools
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
I meant to go over and ask for a song
Maybe put on a harmony
I heard his refrain
As the signal changed
He was playing real good for free.
I don’t know why but the lyrics of this song struck me deeply this morning. Joni is saying by now she is a rising star and plays for fortunes and fame. She has the limo and escorts and the velvet curtain calls. But she notices this guy who is playing his clarinet high and clear with skill for free. She thinks about going over to request a song or harmonize with him but the light changed and the thought is fleeting. Still she is struck by the skill of this one man band and the fact that he would play for free…
Do you sing your song for free? Do you continue to do your hidden work without the accolades and recognition of fame and fortune? I stand and give my applause to this humble man with a song and joy in his heart to share with no tangible reward in sight.
When you pray, enter into your closet, and when you have shut the door, pray to your Father in secret; and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly. (Matt. 6:6)
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