A Spaceman Came Travelling

Infobox Single
Name = A Spaceman Came Travelling


Caption =
Artist = Chris de Burgh
from Album = Spanish Train and Other Stories
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Released = 1976
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Genre = Rock
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Label = A&M Records
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Certification =
Chart position = * #40 (UK Singles chart] ) (1986 re-release)
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"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 has been released numerous times as a single in the UK, first in 1976, then 1981, 1984 and 1986. The 1986 release which was a double A-side with the song "The Ballroom of Romance" reached #40 on the UK singles chart and the Irish 1976 release reached #1 in Ireland, its reissue made it to #15 in 1986. It was also released as a single in the Netherlands in 1985. Since being considered a "Christmas song" it has appeared on many festive compilation albums.

Narrative

The song is a narrative of a UFO religion 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 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 implication is that Christ will be reborn in the year 2000.

Another possibility is that the spaceman is "foretelling" de Burgh's composing/singing of the song in the year 1975, almost 2000 years after the "original playing."

Cover versions

Polish singer Mandaryna released her version of the song on her "Mandaryna.com2me" album and as a Christmas radio single. Gregorian released a cover of the song on their Christmas Chants album in 2006. The Austrian band Eela Craig covered the song on Hats of Glass in 1976.