Chris Rea's Christmas Classic Born from Career's Darkest Hour
The beloved Christmas anthem Driving Home for Christmas emerged from one of Chris Rea's most challenging moments, when the Middlesbrough-born musician believed his career was over.
Rea, who passed away at 74, created what would become his most enduring legacy during a desperate journey home in 1978, eight years before the song's eventual release. The track has since become a cherished part of Christmas celebrations across Ireland and Britain, representing the universal longing to return home during the festive season.
A Journey Born from Desperation
In 2016, Rea revealed the poignant circumstances behind the song's creation. "It was all over for me: I was just about out of my record contract, and my manager had just told me he was leaving me," he told The Guardian.
The situation was so dire that his record company refused to pay for a rail ticket home. Banned from driving himself, Rea relied on his wife Joan, his childhood sweetheart from Middlesbrough, who drove their old Austin Mini all the way to London's Abbey Road studios to collect him.
As they began their journey north, snow began to fall. Rea sat in the passenger seat, clutching £220, the only money the couple had between them. The earlier release of what he considered an unsatisfactory mix of his debut album Whatever Happened to Benny Santini? had left him feeling defeated.
Inspiration Strikes in Traffic
Stuck in traffic, Rea observed fellow drivers who "all looked so miserable" and began singing spontaneously: "We're driving home for Christmas." He scribbled lyrics whenever streetlights illuminated their car, creating what would become a modern classic.
The couple's fortunes changed dramatically upon reaching Middlesbrough at 3am. A letter from PRS America awaited them, containing a £15,000 cheque for his song Fool (If You Think It's Over), which had charted in America. The windfall allowed them to purchase their first home.
From B-Side to Christmas Institution
The handwritten lyrics went into what Rea called an "old tin of unfinished stuff," remaining there for nearly a decade. "I'd never intended to write a Christmas hit," he admitted. "Initially, the song came out on a B-side."
Released in 1986, the track initially served as another radio hit before developing its remarkable staying power. Rea re-recorded it two years later, declaring he "loved it." Since 2007, it has re-entered the UK singles chart every Christmas, reaching number 10 in 2022.
The song's cultural impact extends far beyond chart success. Iceland Foods famously used it in advertisements during 1997 and 1998, while it featured prominently in the BBC's Gavin and Stacey Christmas special in 2008. This year, it appears in M&S Food's Christmas advertisement, with comedian Dawn French singing along in her car.
A Legacy of Resilience
Rea's reluctance to perform the song live until 2014 at London's Hammersmith Odeon reflected his concerns about artistic credibility. Yet the track's enduring appeal demonstrates how authentic emotion transcends commercial concerns.
Earlier this year, Rea released a Christmas-themed album featuring Driving Home for Christmas alongside tracks like Footsteps in the Snow and Joys of Christmas, cementing his connection to the festive season.
The story of Driving Home for Christmas serves as a powerful reminder that our greatest triumphs often emerge from our darkest moments. From a desperate journey with £220 in his pocket, Chris Rea created a song that continues to unite families and communities in the simple, profound desire to come home for Christmas.