Australian Capital Territory

I'm a Survivor by Lynn Harden
(To the tune of Waltzing Matilda)

Once a happy woman preening in the mirror
Found a little lump where a lump shouldn't be
Called up the doc, terrified and in great shock
Said please tell me it's not a malignancy

Chorus
Paddling alo-ong, stroking deep and stro-ong
Riding the dragon is good for your soul
So put on your hot pink top, bend and stretch and warm your muscles up
(Jump on the dragon and paddle away.)

Doctor said I'm sorry, brace yourself, it's quite a wor-rry
The lump in your breast is a malignancy
So it's surgery we'll do, we'll fix you up like new
Cut it out, stitch you up, home again the next day

Chorus
(Hips to the gunwale and paddle away)

Although I've got just one, life is sweet and I have fun
A fluffy duck evens me up temp-or-ar-il-y
My body's in two pieces 'cos I have a new prosthesis
And I wear a pocket bra to hold my mam-mary

Chorus
(Drum out the dragon as we paddle away)

Now it's chemotherapy, I've no hair, but I'm still me
I wear caps or woolly hats when it's wet or chill-ly
Treatment is long, it just goes on and on
But my hair will come back e-ven-tu-all-y

Chorus
(Watch the baby swans as we paddle away)

Then 5 weeks of radio, to get any deadly foe
Left in my breast or where my breast used to be
They use a felt tip pen to join up the dots and then
I lay flat on my back and think of En-gland

Chorus
(Saluting the dawn we paddle away)

Many months have gone, and my treatment is all done
I am part of a very special crew
At the end of all this strife I am celebrating life
I'm woman, I am strong, I'm a sur-vi-vor

Chorus
(Pink Ladies on the water paddling away)

This page last updated: August 5, 2007