Chris Rea Driving Home For — Christmas (1986)

: 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

Chris Rea on 'Driving Home for Christmas' | The Story Behind Chris Rea Driving Home For Christmas (1986)

The song was born from a moment of personal hardship rather than a desire to write a "hit". : On the snowy journey back, the couple

Despite being written in 1978, the song remained in a drawer for years before its eventual release. Composition and Delayed Success Chris Rea on 'Driving

: 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.