Returning for Christmas

Thank you for listening to “Returning for Christmas.” If you have any comments, concerns or praise, please call, email or text Casey Toner at ctoner@gmail.com or (773) 957-2068.

Please be ready, drink in hand, to share in a toast at the end of the album. Oh, and for more information about the juice wars referenced in “Christmas Day Juice Factory Arson,” please read this article.

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“Returning for Christmas”

Tracklist

  1. Introduction (ft. Brian Riggins on vocals)
  2. Christmas Day Juice War Arson
  3. A Christmas Interlude
  4. C’mon Everybody (It’s Christmas Time) (ft. Eddie “Shredder” McMenamin on guitar)

All songs written and recorded by Casey Toner on bass guitar, electric guitar and piano. Mike Molaro assisted with the piano arrangement for “Christmas Day Juice War Arson”

Lyrics

Introduction

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

A VISIT FROM THE GHOSTS OF PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE

THE CAROLERS ARE SINGING 

TOY SOLDIERS ARE DRUMMING

THE JINGLE BELLS ARE ROCKING

AND I’M DOING THE SANTA DANCE

I'M DOING THE SANTA DANCE

I'M DOING THE SANTA DANCE

I’M DOING THE SANTA DANCE

I’M DOING THE SANTA DANCE

I’M DOING THE SANTA DANCE
Christmas Day Juice Factory Arson

Its 4 am
On Christmas
In Cicero, Illinois
1974
 
Two men and one boy
Try to settle a score
With the man who cost them hundreds a week or more
 
They were victims of the juice war
They paid with their lives
They burned up the store
 
Gasoline poured out 
Of the tanker on the floor
That gas fumes are flammable
Was unaccounted for
 
Flames burned
For hours at a time
The building destroyed
Two people inside
 
In the walled city of the syndicate
The juice wars beckoned
The powder keg was lit
 
170 miles away
In Battle Creek Michigan
A man showed up from Cicero
With burns covering his skin
 
His wife said
He lit a fire in their garage
Cleaning car parts with gasoline at 4 am
While smoking a cigar
 
But only one explosion was reported
In Cicero that Christmas Day
The fire at the juice factory
Where his boss' body lay
A Christmas Interlude

OH HI. CASEY HERE. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO MY HOLIDAY RECORD.

I HAVE SOME INSTRUCTION FOR THE NEXT SONG BUT FIRST LET’S RECAP.

WE STARTED OUT WITH A POSITIVE JAM. LOTS OF BIG CHORUSES AND GUITAR RIFFS BLAH BLAH BLAH. IT ROCKS, WHATEVER

THE NEXT SONG WAS ABOUT THIS WEIRD HISTORICAL FOOTNOTE I LEARNED ABOUT THIS PAST YEAR: THE JUICE WARS.

IN THE 1970s, CHICAGO JUICE FACTORY OWNERS DEPLOYED MOB VIOLENCE AGAINST EACH OTHER TO GAIN CONTROL OF TERRITORY.

MY SONG IS ABOUT A REAL LIFE CHRISTMAS DAY JUICE FACTORY ARSON THAT OCCURRED IN 1974.

ONE THING I DIDN’T MENTION WAS THAT THE RINGMASTER OF THAT ARSON WAS A CICERO POLICE OFFICER WHO OWNED A RIVAL JUICE BUSINESS.

ABSOLUTELY WILD STUFF.

NOW BEFORE WE GET TO OUR LAST AND FINAL SONG, A REQUEST:

GET YOURSELF A DRINK BECAUSE THERE’S A TOAST IN THE NEXT SONG.

EGG NOG, WATER, ORANGE JUICE, SPICED WINE, MR PUBB. GRAB WHATEVER. 

I’LL BE PATIENT AND WAIT FOR YOUR RETURN IN 50 SECONDS

THIS IS THE INTERLUDE

DOO DOO DOO THIS IS THE INTERLUDE

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

POUR YOURSELF A DRINK

YOU’RE GOING TO NEED IT FOR THE NEXT SONG

TRUST ME

IT’LL BE GOOD 

TRUST ME

IT WILL HAVE BEEN WORTH IT

TRUST ME

TRUST ME
C'mon Everybody (It's Christmastime)

Santas in his workshop
Cobbling with the elves
Comets chasin’ cupid
Reindeer shake their bells

C’mon everybody 
It’s Christmastime
C’mon everybody 
It’s Christmastime
C’mon everybody 
It’s Christmastime

Flying from the north pole
Toys for boys and girls
Cruising on the jet stream
Circling round the world

C’mon everybody 
It’s Christmastime
C’mon everybody 
It’s Christmastime
C’mon everybody 
It’s Christmastime

Dog’s awake it’s morning
Kids fly down the stairs
Mom and Dad are tired
Grandpa’s in his chair

Ripping through the wrapping
Paper, string and bows
Auntie is drunk off Egg Nog
Nutmeg on her nose

There’s something about that Christmas Spirit that
Fills us up inside
The celebration of a baby boy
Visited by three Magi

Winter solstice 
Holiday parties
Reunions and goodbyes

Raise a toast 
To the ones we love 
And soon the glass is dry

CMON EVERYBODY ITS CHRISTMASTIME
CMON EVERYBODY ITS CHRISTMASTIME
CMON EVERYBODY ITS CHRISTMASTIME
CMON EVERYBODY ITS CHRISTMASTIME

Winter solstice 
Holiday parties
Reunions and goodbyes

Raise a toast 
To the ones we love 
And soon the glass is dry