No Charge

de Johnny Cash

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 writin' on
And after wipin' her hands on her apron she read it and this is what it said
For mowin' the yard 5 dollars
For makin' my own bed this week 1 dollar
For going to the store 50 cents
For playin' with my little brother while you went shoppin' 25 cents
For taking out the trash 1 dollar
For gettin' a good report card 5 dollars
And for rakin' the yard 2 dollars

Total amount owed 14 dollars and 75 cents
Well as mama looked at him standin' there expectanly
And I could see the memories flashin' through her mind
And so she picked up the pen and turnin' 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 readin' 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