Dead & Company percussionist Mickey Hart shared the perfect poem for Deadheads everywhere back in 2015, just in time for Christmas and Dead & Company’s four-night New Year’s run. The drummer and his team rewrote “Twas The Night Before Christmas” and filled it with Grateful Dead references, complete with links to choice audio recordings for each mention.
Related: Cyril Neville Wrote An Awesome Christmas Poem Called ‘The Night Before Funkmas’
As the description says on Hart’s website: “Classic poem turned ultimate holiday playlist. Enjoy.”
‘ Twas the night before Christmas, we all sat in the den,
Cornell 77′ playing again and again.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Stephen soon would be there.
The setlist was smoking – percussion in flight,
Sugar-plums twirled to One More Saturday Night.
Alpine Valley 89′ on the lawn arose such a clatter,
When Sugaree is playing, nothings a matter.
Away to the rail – a spot not to lose,
Close as we can, 78′ Birmingham, New Minglewood Blues.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
Oregon 78′ – what a great Peggy-O.
Good Ol’ Grateful Dead – always making us dance,
Giants Stadium 91 ‘, that Saint Of Circumstance.
1984 in Berkeley tapers love their new section,
Tweaking their levels in geeked out perfection.
During Going Down the Road – ain’t no feeling bad.
The boys were on fire – what a good time we had.
Oakland 86‘ to our grateful ears did appear,
Jerry back on stage after almost a year.
Healing and smiling, Tiger in hand,
Our boys were together, Playing In the Band.
More rapid than eagles guitar riffs they came,
And we whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!
Loser, Cassidy, Althea we’d say,
Candyman, Trucking, Good Lovin’ all day.
At the Greek in 89′, the Good Times Roll fast,
Tennesse Jed and China/Rider are also a blast.
Fox Theater 77′ – an incredible show,
Jerry shreds hard on a Ramble On Rose!
Eyes of the World, Nassau – March 1990,
Branford on sax and Brent shining brightly.
Mail order in hand, a good time is in store,
75′ Great American Music Hall – they sure let it roar.
The Warlocks, The Grateful Dead, & now Dead & Co,
Weir everywhere you know, on the bus we shall go.
50 years of music, always taking us higher,
New Years 1990, dancing with fire.
So many shows in our hearts and our minds,
Inspiring us to always BeKind.
The Music Never Stopped and there’s no end in sight,
Happy Holidays to all, and to all a good-night!
Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you, Mickey Hart!
[Via Mickey Hart’s website, Originally published 12/24/17]