Seven Years to Zero

Seven years of math
Tonight the number's zero

Calculator on the kitchen table
Seven years of math and shame
Circled every payday in red
Like a hunter tracking game
Beans and rice and second shifts
The kids all thought it was fun —
"Camping dinners," we called Tuesdays
They never knew we owed someone

One envelope left on the counter
One number left to kill

Paid in full (paid in full!)
Ink still wet across the bill
I climbed out with my own two hands —
Paid in full, and I always will

Stamp it! (paid in full)
Say it! (paid in full)
Seven years to zero —
Paid in full!

I walked the last envelope slow
Like a trophy to the box
Let both kids press down the stamp
So their hands would learn what it costs
A full-price pizza, extra cheese
Nobody doing math
Dessert after seven Aprils —
Sweetest thing we ever had

I framed the final statement
Hung it by the kitchen sink
Zero never looked so rich —
Freedom's cheaper than you think

Paid in full (paid in full!)
Ink still wet across the bill
I climbed out with my own two hands —
Paid in full, and I always will
(Paid in full!)

Seven years of math
The answer's finally mine