music

And here's why these songs are on the playlist...

When I Go Away - In 1998, Levon Helm was diagnosed with throat cancer, underwent surgery and 28 radiation treatments. His characteristic, raw voice was gone. In 2009, with his voice recovered, he released Electric Dirt, a Grammy award winning album. This track, about death, pain and suffering, means far more with the backstory. If you don't feel something good from this music, you're a freakin' turnip!

Cancer - From the Black Parade rock opera by My Chemical Romance. Brutal description of end-stage cancer from the point of view of "the patient." Pass this one by unless you're looking for a bit of a downer.

Three Little Birds (Don't Worry About a Thing) - Bob Marley introduced me to reggae, the most laid-back yet uplifting music genre I can think of. Marley died of cancer when he was 36, but his music is timeless.

Should I Stay or Should I Go - I see this one by The Clash as being sung by my lung (now isn't that poetic?) while I try to decide whether or not to have a lobectomy. There's a post about it.

Live Like You're Dying - Just in case you've not figured it out yet, you just get one ride on the merry-go-round. Make the best of every day, no matter how old you are. The artist is Lenka (Lenka Kripac) from Australia.

Keep Me in Your Heart for a While - Warren Zevon wrote this after he was diagnosed with inoperable cancer. It's sad, but it belongs here.

Drift Away - Awesome song about... well, about just about anything you want it to be about. Performed by Dobie Gray.

The Great Gig in the Sky (I am not afraid of dying) - This track, with vocalist Clare Torre, concludes Side One of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon album.

I'm on My Way - The Proclaimers, the Scottish duo of twins Charlie and Craig Reid, are celebrity patrons of the Association for International Cancer Research. This song hasn't got anything to do with cancer and, unless you're already dead, it should lift your spirits. Happy music.