the muse smiles as she walks away
she says they're still the same old used to be
still a little bit off key
but hey, that's OK
they put their heart in everything they play
so take some time to listen
keep 'em off the streets and out of prison
if you throw a dime god bless you
have a great day
and they'll spank that tambourine
they'll break out the accordion
if that don't drive the audience away
they could stand out there forever
like there's nowhere in the world
they'd rather be
but they're quick to admit the fact is
they could use a little practice
still it wouldn't hurt if they got paid

so drop a dollar in the case
let the buskers save some face
or make 'em pack up in disgrace
and go away
drop a dollar in the case
it might not save the human race
but it kind of livens up the place
that's more than we can say

mama always said don't play out in the road
she said it's safer on the sidewalk
on the corner of some city block
now,that's the place to go
it may not be exactly carnegie hall
no flowers at the curtain call
but you play harder
when your back's against the wall
they're not just putting on a show

so spank that tambourine
play that fiddle good and loud
and maybe if you draw a crowd
you'll sell a few cds
now they know that they'll never see
their names lit up on a marquee
they'll always be completely unknown
so no one says you have to
throw those dogs a bone
but what else in this world is free

so drop a dollar in the case
let the buskers save some face
don't make 'em pack up in disgrace
and go away
drop a dollar in the case
if you want to hear some bass
and if that isn't to your taste
well, you can walk away

go on, make a request
put those buskers to the test
and they'll do their level best
to play that song
but their memories'll get blurred
and they'll forget the chords and words
if of all the songs you've ever heard
you only wanna hear 'free bird'