Driving Home for Christmas

Album: The Christmas EP (1986)
Charted: 10
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This perennially popular Christmas tune was originally recorded by Chris Rea in 1986, peaking at #53 on the UK single chart two years later. Since 2007, the song has re-entered the UK Top 75 each year around Christmas time as well as several other European country's listings.
  • Rea wrote the song many years before he first recorded it. The idea came to him when he was stuck in heavy traffic heading out of London in his wife's Austin Mini with the prospect of a long drive to his home town of Middlesbrough ahead. He told BBC Radio 4's Today program, "Driving Home for Christmas" is a "car version of a carol."
  • The song was used in Christmas commercials for frozen food retail chain Iceland in 1997, 1998, and 2011 respectively, with the latter featuring a cover by singer and TV presenter Stacey Solomon. Her version was released as a single peaking at #27 in the UK. All the proceeds went to Alzheimer's Research UK and children's hospice charity Together For Short Lives.
  • Being stuck in traffic has proved to be a fruitful experience for Chris Rea. Another of his most successful songs, "The Road To Hell (Part Two)," was written by the singer while caught up in a jam on the M25.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Grammar In Lyrics

Grammar In LyricsMusic Quiz

Lyrics don't always follow the rules of grammar. Can you spot the ones that don't?

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

Sam Phillips

Sam PhillipsSongwriter Interviews

Collaborating with T Bone Burnett, Leslie Phillips changed her name and left her Christian label behind - Robert Plant, who recorded one of her songs on Raising Sand, is a fan.

Women Who Rock

Women Who RockSong Writing

Evelyn McDonnell, editor of the book Women Who Rock, on why the Supremes are just as important as Bob Dylan.

"Stairway To Heaven" Lawsuit: A Timeline

"Stairway To Heaven" Lawsuit: A TimelineSong Writing

Untangling the events that led to the "Stairway To Heaven" lawsuit.

Mike Love of The Beach Boys

Mike Love of The Beach BoysSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist of The Beach Boys talks about coming up with the words for "Good Vibrations," "Fun, Fun, Fun," "Kokomo" and other classic songs.