Thank you for participating in “Away for Christmas,” a holiday celebration unlike any other. In case of emergency, do the The Santa Dance IMMEDIATELY and then forward any complaints, concerns or praise to Casey Toner at ctoner@gmail.com or (773) 957-2068.
Tracklist
1. Intro
2. It’s Christmas
3. How to Santa Dance
4. Away for Christmas
5. New Years Eve at Disneyland / Santa Dance (reprise)
All songs written and recorded by Casey Toner on acoustic guitar, bass guitar, electric guitar and jingle bells. Emily Pela co-wrote “Away for Christmas” and co-produced New Years Eve at Disneyland / Santa Dance (reprise). Santa Dance choreography by Emily Pela.
Lyrics
Intro
Ho ho ho
It’s Santa Claus
Gather ‘round the tree, children
For an evening of merriment and delight
Musical gifts under the tree
Stocking stuffers: you know, guitars and bass
And lyrics and harmonies for this special night
It’s Christmas
It's Christmas
Egg nog
“It’s Glug Time!” at Simon’s
Christkindl market, even though it’s a tourist trap
Scrooged with Bill Murray
Tiny Tim saying “God bless us, every one.”
Corporate Christmas parties
Intimate Christmas parties with loved ones
Last second Christmas shopping at Target
That scene in "It’s A Wonderful Life" when Harry Bailey returns and gives a toast to his brother George, “the richest man in town.” I always cry at that part
Our nieces and nephews opening gifts
The green stocking sewn by my grandmother, rest in peace
Those delicious cookies sent to our office every Christmas
Decorating Christmas trees
That year my parents got us a Nintendo for Christmas
Going out to dinner with my wife on Christmas
Sunny California and Disneyland
It’s Christmas
"Last Christmas" by Wham
Ludachristmas
Gumbo on Christmas Eve
Is Die Hard a Christmas movie debate?
Nat King Cole
The bar on Christmas Eve
Putting the wrapping paper bow on the dog
Zoolights with friends and bourbon
Celebrating with our friends in Mobile and our family in Gulf Port
Going to the Field Museum with mom for the annual holiday party
Charlie Brown Christmas
When the CTA’s Holiday Train arrives at your stop unexpectedly, you step on, you are bathed in the green and red lights. Holiday music is blaring and Everyone is AUTOMATICALLY in a better mood. Why?
It’s Christmas
Our family and friends present and past
My big sister and her birthday. She was born on Christmas
Santa Claus
World War 1 Christmas Truce
Baby Jesus being born in a manger
Peace and goodwill towards all men on Earth
It’s Christmas
How to Santa Dance
Hello! And thank you for listening to "Away for Christmas"
I hope you are filled with the holiday spirit.
Speaking of the holiday spirit, I’m going to give you some instructions for a dance that you will be asked to perform. Like the ghosts in Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol, the dance appears three times.
The dance is called “The Santa Dance.” I must note that you don’t HAVE to do the dance, but it’s just better if you do the dance. I can’t say it any other way. Also, no one will know that you didn’t do the dance. Except Santa. Santa will DEFINITELY know. And you don’t want to disappoint Santa… do you???
Anyway, the dance is made up of four moves, which I will explain later on.
The first move is the “Santa Mush.” You hold out your arms, parallel to the ground, ball your fists like you are holding reindeer reins and you MUSH on the beat. Meaning, you move arms at the same time up and down, and then snap your wrists, as if you are MUSHING the reindeer.
The second move is the “Santa Laugh.” You hold out your hands over Santa’s big belly, and you laugh. Say “ho ho ho” out loud and cradle your belly as you do it. That’s how Santa laughs.
The third move is the “Sack Shimmy.” As Santa prepares to go down the chimney, he holds the knot at the top of the sack of toys with both hands and flings it over his shoulder. Like an axe.
Finally, the fourth move is “The Chimney Shimmy.” With his sack of toys in tow, Santa bends at the knees, leans back a little bit, puts his arms to the side, and enters the chimney. On the beat, try to get lower, if you can. If not, just shake a little or move your neck side to side to make sure Santa can squeeze through the chimney.
OK let’s try this again
SANTA MUSH - make those reindeer go
SANTA LAUGH - Ho ho ho
SACK SHIMMY - put the toys on your shoulder, now the other shoulder
CHIMNEY SHIMMY - learn back and squeeze down that chimney
Thank you for learning how to do the Santa Dance. Now, let’s continue with the show
Away for Christmas (The Santa Dance)
These days we’re not going anywhere
Thinking of friends we used to see
Guitar in my hand
With songs to sing
At home for the sake of you and me
Staying away for Christmas
Sorry it’s the way it has to be
Wish we could be closer
Do the Santa Dance, and maybe...
Next year we will celebrate
With gifts and holiday cheer
Until that time I'm be lying low
While the fat man on the roof
yells.... Ho ho ho
Staying away for Christmas
Sorry its the way it has to be
Wish we could be closer
Do the Santa Dance, and maybe...
Besides, it’s not forever
Next year will be extra special
We'll gather round the tree
And wish Merry Christmas together
For you and me
New Year's Eve at Disneyland (Santa Dance Reprise)
We're going to Disneyland
I'm going with my fam
My cousins are together tonight
Were going to Disneyland
My cousins are speeding
We're with them in their cars
They call it the "ride before the rides"
We're going to Disneyland
Were going to Space Mountain
And Splash Mountain, too
I am 13-years-old
This is the best day of my life
I'm lost at Disneyland
On the busiest night of the year
My cousins told my parents
They would keep track of me
I'm reunited with my cousins
Running into them in the park
They asked me where I went
I tell them I do not know
One minute before midnight
We gather in the park
And watch the fireworks
Ring in 1996
We went to Disneyland
I went with my fam
My cousins were together that night
We went to Disneyland
...
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And auld lang syne!
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne.
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne.
And surely you’ll buy your pint cup!
And surely I’ll buy mine!
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet
for auld lang syne.
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne.
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne.
...
Sending my love to all so near
And so very far away
Have very Merry Christmas to all the boys and girls
And have Happy New Year's Day