C.A.N.C.E.R.

Album: Lost Forever // Lost Together (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Guitarist Tom Searle penned this song about his bout with skin cancer. He told HMV.com: "You know in Harry Potter you're not supposed to mention the name Voldemort? Cancer's basically the real life version of that. It's a horrible word. I wrote it after I found out that I had melanoma, skin cancer on my leg, I had surgery to remove it and I wrote it after I'd had it removed. I thought 'What do people do in these situations?', so I write a song. I tried to make it less about me, and more about what cancer means to humans in general."
  • Vocalist Sam Carter commented: "It was an odd one for me to sing, I felt like I had to really do it justice, it's a very personal song for Tom and I did everything I could to make as good as possible."
  • On August 20, 2016 Tom Searle died after a three-year battle with cancer. He was just 28.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Glen Ballard

Glen BallardSongwriter Interviews

Glen Ballard talks about co-writing and producing Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill album, and his work with Dave Matthews, Aerosmith and Annie Lennox.

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"

Dave Alvin - "4th Of July"They're Playing My Song

When Dave recorded the first version of the song with his group the Blasters, producer Nick Lowe gave him some life-changing advice.

Name the Character in the Song

Name the Character in the SongMusic Quiz

With a few clues (Works at a diner, dreams of running away), can you name the character in the song?

Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go's

Charlotte Caffey of The Go-Go'sSongwriter Interviews

Charlotte was established in the LA punk scene when a freaky girl named Belinda approached her wearing a garbage bag.

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New York

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New YorkSong Writing

Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.

Randy Houser

Randy HouserSongwriter Interviews

The "How Country Feels" singer talks Skynyrd and songwriting.