Lyrics No Charge - Shirley Caesar

My sister's little boy
Came in the kitchen one evening
While she was fixing supper
And he handed her a piece paper
He had been writing on
And after wiping her hands on an apron
She took it in her hands and read it
And this is what it said:
For mowing the yard $5
And for making up my own bed this week $1
For going to the store $.50
And playing with little brother while you went shopping $.25
Taking out the trash $1
And for getting a good report card $5
And for raking the yard $2
Total owed $14.75

Well she looked at him standing there and expecting
And a thousand memories flashed through her mind
So she picked up pen and turned the paper over and this is what she wrote:
For the nine months I carried you
Holding you inside me no charge
For the nights I sat up with doctored you
And prayed for you no charge
For the time and tears
And the costs through the years
There is no charge
When you add it all up
The full cost of my love is no charge
For the nights filled with grey
And the worries ahead
No charge
For the advice and the knowledge
And the costs of your college
No charge
For the toys, school, and clothes
And for wiping your nose
There's no charge my son
When you add it all the real cost of my love is no charge

After that mom finished talking to her little boy
He looked up at her great big o' tear in his eyes
And he said "Mama, I sure do love you"
And then reached out he got the letter and turned it over and he wrote in great big words
Paid in full
When you add it all up
The real cost of my love is no charge