A Spaceman Came Travelling
Encyclopedia
"A Spaceman Came Travelling" is a song by Chris de Burgh
released on the album Spanish Train and Other Stories
in 1975 (See 1975 in music
). It became a popular Christmas song in the UK, and has been released numerous times as a single, first in 1976, then 1981, 1984 and 1986. The 1986 release which was a double A-side with the song "The Ballroom of Romance", reaching #40 on the UK singles chart. A re-release in 1976 reached #1 in Ireland, its reissue making #15 in that country in 1986. It was also released as a single in the Netherlands in 1985. It has appeared on many festive compilation albums.
tale. It is a retelling of how the angel Gabriel
came to give a message to the shepherds, but with a spaceship and a spaceman instead.
De Burgh seems to make a prophecy of the Second Coming
in this song:
The baby represents the purity with which the Christ will be returning.
Chris de Burgh
Chris de Burgh is a British/Irish singer-songwriter. He is most famous for his 1986 love song "The Lady in Red".-Early life:...
released on the album Spanish Train and Other Stories
Spanish Train and Other Stories
Spanish Train and Other Stories is the second album by Chris de Burgh, released by A&M Records in 1975.-Track listing:# "Spanish Train" – 5:00# "Lonely Sky" – 3:52# "This Song For You" – 4:14# "Patricia the Stripper" – 3:30...
in 1975 (See 1975 in music
1975 in music
-January–April:*January 2 - New York City U.S. District Court Judge Richard Owen rules that former Beatle John Lennon and his lawyers can have access to Department of Immigration files pertaining to his deportation case....
). It became a popular Christmas song in the UK, and has been released numerous times as a single, first in 1976, then 1981, 1984 and 1986. The 1986 release which was a double A-side with the song "The Ballroom of Romance", reaching #40 on the UK singles chart. A re-release in 1976 reached #1 in Ireland, its reissue making #15 in that country in 1986. It was also released as a single in the Netherlands in 1985. It has appeared on many festive compilation albums.
Narrative
The song is a narrative of a UFO religionUFO religion
UFO religion is an informal term used to describe a religion that equates UFO occupants with gods or other semi-divine beings. Typically, the UFO occupants are held to be extraterrestials and that humanity either currently is, or eventually will become, part of a preexisting extraterrestrial...
tale. It is a retelling of how the angel Gabriel
Gabriel
In Abrahamic religions, Gabriel is an Archangel who typically serves as a messenger to humans from God.He first appears in the Book of Daniel, delivering explanations of Daniel's visions. In the Gospel of Luke Gabriel foretells the births of both John the Baptist and of Jesus...
came to give a message to the shepherds, but with a spaceship and a spaceman instead.
De Burgh seems to make a prophecy of the Second Coming
Second Coming
In Christian doctrine, the Second Coming of Christ, the Second Advent, or the Parousia, is the anticipated return of Jesus Christ from Heaven, where he sits at the Right Hand of God, to Earth. This prophecy is found in the canonical gospels and in most Christian and Islamic eschatologies...
in this song:
"The stranger returned and said 'now I must fly.
When two thousand years of your time has gone by.
This song will begin once again, to a baby's cry..."
The baby represents the purity with which the Christ will be returning.
Cover versions
- Polish dance music singer MandarynaMandarynaMarta Katarzyna Wiktoria Wiśniewska a.k.a. Mandaryna, born in Łódź 12 March 1978 as Marta Mandrykiewicz is a Polish singer, dancer and actress.- Career :...
released her version of the song on her Mandaryna.com2me album and as a Christmas radio single which became number #4 hit in PolandPolandPoland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and reached #34 in GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. - GregorianGregorian (band)Gregorian is a German band headed by Frank Peterson that performs Gregorian chant-inspired versions of modern pop and rock songs. The band features both vocal harmony and instrumental accompaniment.- Band history :...
released a cover of the song on their Christmas ChantsChristmas ChantsChristmas Chants is a seasonal album by German band Gregorian released in 2006. In 2008 a special edition titled Christmas Chants & Visions was released, containing the original CD with two bonus tracks, and a DVD...
album in 2006. - The Austrian band Eela CraigEela CraigEela Craig was an Austrian rock band of the 1970s and 80s that combined progressive rock with Jazz and classical music influences as well as Christian lyrics. The band's name is without known meaning.- History :...
covered the song on Hats of Glass in 1976. - The song also features on the 2009 album 'So this is Christmas' by St. Peter's Male Voice Choir.
- Icelandic singer Paul OscarPaul OscarPáll Óskar Hjálmtýsson , known internationally as Páll Óskar and Paul Oscar, is an Icelandic pop singer, songwriter and disc jockey. He had a musical childhood, singing at private functions, with choirs and for media advertisements, but was affected by bullying in school and tension between his...
and harpist Monika Abendroth covered the song on their 2003 Christmas album Ljósin Heima (Lights at home). - The English rock band SmokieSmokie (band)Smokie is an English rock band from Bradford, Yorkshire who found success in Europe in the 1970s.-Early years:Originally called The Yen, then The Sphynx and later Essence, the band was formed in 1964 at St. Bede's Grammar School in Heaton, Bradford as The Yen. The Yen's first gig was at Birkenshaw...
also released a cover of the song on the "Light a Candle - The Christmas Album" in 1996. - Celtic Woman in their album Songs from the Heart German Performance
- The Taiwanese singer Chyi ChinChyi ChinChyi Chin , is a Taiwanese singer and songwriter.-Early life:When he was young, his father had a strict daily regimen of study that started at 5 am. His studies varied from English music and literature to classical Chinese literature and Tang Dynasty poetry. Chyi, however, did not enjoy reading...
, "直到世界末日" (Until the end of the world) in his album "邊界"