For Grandad, Marty and Peter

» highest in charts:   # 641   (127,417 songs currently listed in Acoustic)
» highest in sub-genre:   # 46   (10,368 songs currently listed in Acoustic > Folk)

Last year, I was asked to perform at a Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life. I was extremely moved by the sight of about 100 cancer survivors in matching blue shirts taking a "Victory lap". I wrote this song from the perspective of an ordinary guy fighting for his life.

Fight Back! (To Life)
G-C-D-C rock riff To Marty ©June 25, 2003 S. McGaughey

I'm a normal guy. Got a wife and a job, I'm only thirty-nine.
I take care of the kids, sing a few songs, make sure the bills get paid on time.
But last week I found a little lump under my arm.
Something so small couldn't do much harm.
Then the doctor says the word that begins with C.
I draw my breath in disbelief.
RECOIL

(Chorus)
FORCED BACK,
DRIVEN BACK,
Fall Back,
Withdraw,
retire
Then I
hold back,
lie back,
RELAX,
Turn Back,
Bounce Back
Then I FIGHT BACK!
Then I FIGHT BACK!

Well they fill me up with poison to save my life.
I worry about the strain this puts on my poor wife.
Will I ever teach my baby boy to catch a ball?
Or toast my daughter in the banquet hall?
I wonder if this will be the end of me?
It's so easy to wallow in misery.

Time to Step Back (chorus)

Now I proudly wear this blue shirt to walk a survivor's mile
With a hundred new-found friends I share a common smile
Though we all struggle with this life and death fight
Living is what we celebrate tonight
TO LIFE! (chorus)
To life! (to life!) and to the living!
To life! (to life!) Let's Get on with the living of it. (Repeat 2X)