No Charge

(album: Look At Them Beans - 1975)

Our little boy came up to his mama in the kitchen this evening
While she was fixing supper
And he handed her a piece of paper he'd been writing on
And after wiping her hands on her apron she read it and this is what it said

For mowing the yard 5 dollars
For making my own bed this week 1 dollar
For going to the store 50 cents
For playing with my little brother while you went shopping 25 cents
For taking out the trash 1 dollar
For getting a good report card 5 dollars
And for raking the yard 2 dollars
Total amount owed 14 dollars and 75 cents

Well as mama looked at him standing there expectanly
And I could see the memories flashing through her mind
And so she picked up the pen and turning the paper over
This is what she wrote and I read it to him

For the nine months she carried you growing inside her no charge
For the nights we sat up with you doctoring you praying for you no charge
For the time and the tears that you've caused through the years there's no charge
When you added all up the full cost of our love is no charge

For the nights filled with dread and the worries ahead no charge
For advice and for knowledge and the cost of your college no charge
For the toys food and clothes and for wiping your nose there's no charge
When you added all up the full cost of our love is no charge

Well when I finished reading he had big tears in his eyes
And he looked up at his mother and he said mama I sure do love you
Then he took the pen and in great big letter he wrote Paid In Full

When you added all up the cost of real love is no charge