Forty years ago, in April of 1974, a struggling young singer named Melba Montgomery was forwarded a song that had been written by Harlan Howard. It was titled “No Charge”. She promptly recorded it; and by the end of May of that year, it had reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, and also No. 39 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Needless to say, she enjoyed her first measure of success as a result.
The lyrics, which have since been covered by numerous other artists, are quite moving. In fact, the writer of the song, in an interview for the book, The Billboard Book of Number One Country Hits, once stated the following:
"I've never written a song that moves people so much. I've had guys tell me they almost wrecked their truck when they heard it 'cause it made them cry. I had a lot of delightful records in many different languages on that song, but I guess that's probably my favorite song as far as impact is concerned."
The song recounts the story of a little boy who one day hands his mother a piece of paper that contains an itemized list of charges he believes he is owed for having carried out his simple daily chores. The mother’s response involves a reminder for her son about all the things she has done for him without ever having sought payment for the services she rendered.
Her response concludes with the admonishment that "the cost of real love is no charge". Thereafter, lovingly chastised, and definitely enlightened, the young boy realizes that his mother is right and forgives all of the charges he was previously set on collecting.
I am posting the lyrics below today as a means for reflection during this week leading up to Mother's Day. As I do, I hope they serve to remind us all of the true reason and purpose for which this special day exists. If you, like me, had a mother who did such things for you, remember how blessed you were.
If she is still with you, then why not seek her out and let her know what all she means to you? If she has already gone on to her reward, then why not thank God for her impact on your life? Above all, though, why not carry on her legacy by finding ways to love and serve others as unselfishly as she once did you?
NO CHARGE
My little boy came into the kitchen this evenin'
While I was fixin' supper
And he handed me a piece of paper he'd been writin' on
And after wipin' my hands on my apron
I read it and this is what it said
For mowin' the yard, five dollars
And for makin' my own bed this week, one dollar
And for goin' to the store, fifty cents
An' playin' with little brother
While you went shoppin', twenty-five cents
Takin' out the trash, one dollar
Gettin' a good report card, five dollars
And for rakin' the yard, two dollars
Total owed, fourteen seventy-five
Well, I looked at him standin' there expectantly
And a thousand mem'ries flashed through my mind
So I picked up the pen, turnin' the paper over
This is what I wrote
For nine months, I carried you
Growin' inside me, no charge
For the nights I've sat up with you
Doctored you, prayed for you, no charge
For the time and the tears
And the cost through the years, there's no charge
When you add it all up
The full cost of my love is no charge
For the nights filled with dread
And the worries ahead, no charge
For advice and the knowledge
And the cost of your college, no charge
For the toys, food and clothes
And for wipin' your nose, there's no charge, son
When you add it all up
The full cost of my love, is no charge
Well, when he finished readin'
He had great big old tears in his eyes
And he looked up at me and he said
"Mama, I sure do love you"
Then he took the pen
And in great big letters he wrote 'Paid in full'
When you add it all up
The cost of real love is no charge
SOURCE: http://www.songlyrics.com/melba-montgomery/no-charge-lyrics/.
SEE ALSO: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Charge.
The lyrics, which have since been covered by numerous other artists, are quite moving. In fact, the writer of the song, in an interview for the book, The Billboard Book of Number One Country Hits, once stated the following:
"I've never written a song that moves people so much. I've had guys tell me they almost wrecked their truck when they heard it 'cause it made them cry. I had a lot of delightful records in many different languages on that song, but I guess that's probably my favorite song as far as impact is concerned."
The song recounts the story of a little boy who one day hands his mother a piece of paper that contains an itemized list of charges he believes he is owed for having carried out his simple daily chores. The mother’s response involves a reminder for her son about all the things she has done for him without ever having sought payment for the services she rendered.
Her response concludes with the admonishment that "the cost of real love is no charge". Thereafter, lovingly chastised, and definitely enlightened, the young boy realizes that his mother is right and forgives all of the charges he was previously set on collecting.
I am posting the lyrics below today as a means for reflection during this week leading up to Mother's Day. As I do, I hope they serve to remind us all of the true reason and purpose for which this special day exists. If you, like me, had a mother who did such things for you, remember how blessed you were.
If she is still with you, then why not seek her out and let her know what all she means to you? If she has already gone on to her reward, then why not thank God for her impact on your life? Above all, though, why not carry on her legacy by finding ways to love and serve others as unselfishly as she once did you?
NO CHARGE
My little boy came into the kitchen this evenin'
While I was fixin' supper
And he handed me a piece of paper he'd been writin' on
And after wipin' my hands on my apron
I read it and this is what it said
For mowin' the yard, five dollars
And for makin' my own bed this week, one dollar
And for goin' to the store, fifty cents
An' playin' with little brother
While you went shoppin', twenty-five cents
Takin' out the trash, one dollar
Gettin' a good report card, five dollars
And for rakin' the yard, two dollars
Total owed, fourteen seventy-five
Well, I looked at him standin' there expectantly
And a thousand mem'ries flashed through my mind
So I picked up the pen, turnin' the paper over
This is what I wrote
For nine months, I carried you
Growin' inside me, no charge
For the nights I've sat up with you
Doctored you, prayed for you, no charge
For the time and the tears
And the cost through the years, there's no charge
When you add it all up
The full cost of my love is no charge
For the nights filled with dread
And the worries ahead, no charge
For advice and the knowledge
And the cost of your college, no charge
For the toys, food and clothes
And for wipin' your nose, there's no charge, son
When you add it all up
The full cost of my love, is no charge
Well, when he finished readin'
He had great big old tears in his eyes
And he looked up at me and he said
"Mama, I sure do love you"
Then he took the pen
And in great big letters he wrote 'Paid in full'
When you add it all up
The cost of real love is no charge
SOURCE: http://www.songlyrics.com/melba-montgomery/no-charge-lyrics/.
SEE ALSO: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Charge.