Isilion

I recently read somewhere that Bach’s was the most brilliant mind ever to have existed.

It could be so argued.

But that’s what this is…

“I wish you a hopeful Christmas
I wish you a brave new year
All anguish pain and sadness
Leave your heart and let your road be clear
They said there’d be snow at Christmas
They said there’d be peace on Earth
Hallelujah, Noel be it Heaven or Hell
The Christmas we get we deserve”

Joni Mitchell, For Free

This is pretty much sublime.

But, my, it’s worth it.

Freedom
by Alpha Ya Ya Diallo

Should I say I walk through a goodly chunk of Imperial City each morning on my way to my post by a telephone servicing customers? I pass street musicians, especially around the Metro stop. A fellow in with long dreads, a drum machine, a battery powered amp, an effects peddle and beautifully baroque chorusing flanged guitar sparks drifting around the arched ceiling and bouncing off the shining morning walls. An old Chinese man playing what almost seems to be washtub bass, but with high mournful warbles as he drags his long bow over its one string. Sometime I drop a buck or two or twenty. Some days I’m just in too much of a hurry to even notice.

Anyway, I was just listening to this song.

FOR FREE
Artist: Joni Mitchell
Album: Ladies of The Canyon

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 on 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