Chris Rea Driving Home For Christmas (1986) Link

The song was born from a moment of personal hardship rather than a desire to write a "hit".

: In December 1978, Chris Rea was at a low ebb in his career. His record contract was ending, his manager was leaving, and he was banned from driving. Chris Rea Driving Home For Christmas (1986)

: Because the record company refused to pay for a train ticket, his wife, Joan, drove their old Austin Mini all the way from Middlesbrough to London to pick him up from Abbey Road Studios. The song was born from a moment of

: On the snowy journey back, the couple became trapped in heavy traffic near Nottingham. Rea observed the "miserable" faces of fellow motorists and jokingly began singing, "We're driving home for Christmas". He scribbled the lyrics on scraps of paper whenever streetlights illuminated the car’s interior. Composition and Delayed Success : Because the record company refused to pay

Chris Rea on 'Driving Home for Christmas' | The Story Behind