A spaceman came travelling

"A spaceman came travelling" is a song by Chris de Burgh originally released in 1975. The song was re-recorded by The Gliding Faces for their 2026 covers album project, Eye to eye.

Lyrics

A spaceman came travelling on his ship from afar
'Twas light years of time since his mission did start
And over a village he halted his craft
And it hung in the sky like a star, just like a star

He followed a light and came down to a shed
Where a mother and child were lying there on a bed
A bright light of silver shone round his head
And he had the face of an angel, and they were afraid

Then the stranger spoke, he said "Do not fear
I come from a planet a long way from here
And I bring a message for mankind to hear,"
And suddenly the sweetest music filled the air

And it went la la la la, la la la, la la
La la la la, la la la
La la la la, la la la, la la
Peace and goodwill to all men
and love for the child
La la la la, la la la, la la
La la la la, la la la
La la la la, la la la, la la
Ah ah ah
Ooh ooh ooh

This lovely music went trembling through the ground
And many were wakened on hearing that sound
And travellers on the road, the village they found
By the light of that ship in the sky, which shone all round

Then just before dawn at the paling of the sky
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."

And it went la la la la, la la la, la la
La la la la, la la la
La la la la, la la la, la la
This song will begin once again
to a baby's cry
And it goes la la la la, la la la, la
La la la la, la la la
La la la la, la la la, la la
Peace and goodwill to all men, and
love for the child

Oh the whole world is waiting, waiting to hear the song again
There are thousands standing on the edge of the world
And a star is moving somewhere, the time is nearly here
This song will begin once again, to a baby's cry

Versions

A spaceman came travelling art.

• Appears on Eye to eye.
• Single mix and remixes appear on "A spaceman came travelling" maxi-single (q.v.).

Maxi-single release

1. "A spaceman came travelling" (single mix) - 4.57
2. "Northern star" - 4.25
3. "Only you - 3.10
4. "A spaceman came travelling" (extended mix) - 8.01
5. "A spaceman came travelling" (LorD and Master remix) - 5.41
6. "A spaceman came travelling" (Konzept remix) - 5.39
7. "A spaceman came travelling" (Xxäm remix) - 6.14
8. "A spaceman came travelling" (E39 interstellar remix) - 5.30

Released 18 December 2026.

Personnel

• Written by Christopher Davison.
• Produced and performed by Daniel Graham and Max Herring.
• Additional production and remix on tracks 4 - 6 by Daniel Graham for The Gliding Faces, LorD and Master and Konzept respectively.
• Additional production and remix on track 7 by Max Herring for Xxäm.
• Additional production and remix on track 8 by Peter Tanico for E39.