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about

For Grandad, Marty and Peter
In 2003 I was asked to perform at an 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.

lyrics

Fight Back! (To Life)

G-C-D-C rock riff
for 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)

credits

from For the Sake of the Song, released December 5, 2004

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Sean McGaughey image

Sean McGaughey Ontario

I am a folk singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and children's entertainer in Simcoe County Ontario. By day, I am a mild-mannered Elementary School teacher-librarian.

Since 2013, I have been participating the the February Album Writing Month Challenge at fawm.org to write 14 songs in February.

This year I challenged myself to up my musicianship and production values. This is the result. ... more

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