Tim Harrison's "Chuvalo"

©2006, 2009, Tim Harrison and Second Avenue Songs

THE STORY

        While on tour in New England I was sitting in a hotel room in the afternoon waiting until it was time to go to the gig.  Flipping channels on the TV, I came across an ESPN archival re-run of the George Chuvalo-Muhammad Ali fight in 1966.  I became mesmerized by George Chuvalo's focus - it was spell-binding.  After I had watched the fight, I picked up my guitar and jotted down a few lines.  I was not a big boxing fan, and had to research what George Chuvalo was all about, and with that research came the knowledge of his incredible strength of character and indomitable spirit.  Together with what I had witnessed of the fight, his story and struggles became the inspiration for the song.

        Shortly after its creation, I ran into Frank Wilkes who was playing at one of George's "Fight Against Drugs" events and he invited me along to play the song.  It was indeed a thrill to meet George and play the song for him.  Accompanied by my friends Peter Verity and Sebastian Agnello, the audience cheered and roared as we sang the lines "he never went down".

        This recording was initially made in Second Avenue Studios in Toronto.  I have since added tracks and re-mixed in my new surroundings on Gabriola Island.  Peter Verity plays mandolin and harmonica while I cover the vocals, guitar, bass, percussion and keys.

DOWNLOADS

Chuvalo MP3 (playing time: 3:45)

Chuvalo wav.( large) (playing time: 3:45)

Chuvalo.flac (playing time 3:45)

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LYRICS

Chuvalo

©Tim Harrison and Second Avenue Songs 2006

Before the Second World War came around
A child was born on the tough side of town
Born to defend in the neighbourhood
George Chuvalo, he was born to be good

He boxed in the street and he never got beat
And at the gym in the church he'd always come first
He boxed with the shadows and he boxed with the sun
Left, left, right, 'til the day was done

CHORUS:

And he went fifteen rounds with Muhammad Ali
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee
Fifteen rounds for the heavyweight crown
Fifteen rounds, he never went down

Then Jones was gone, Ramos never made a sound
Knocked Quarry out cold in the seventh round
Hit the big time as Canadian champ
Boxing with the best was George's training camp

Then he warred with Frasier and with Foreman too
Ninety-seven fights before he was through
Retired as champ in seventy-nine
Still tough as nails, but he'd done his time

CHORUS

But then the fight turned to invisible foes
Demons who fought with invisible blows
Demons who took three sons and a wife
Demons who knew how to take a man's life

So now he fights back at the enemy
Drugs that could knock down anybody
He refuses the dark and he heads for the light
'Cause George says "Son, when you're a fighter you fight"

CHORUS

GEORGE CHUVALO'S FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS WEBSITE

THE 1966 FIGHT ON YOUTUBE

TO VISIT TIM HARRISON'S WEBSITE CLICK HERE

Second Avenue Songs and Records

info@secondavenue.ca