A Spaceman Came Travelling – English Lyrics

• By: Chris de Burgh

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the fascinating blend of science fiction and Christmas tradition in Chris de Burgh's 'A Spaceman Came Travelling'. This song creatively reimagines the Nativity story through an extraterrestrial lens, offering listeners a unique perspective on peace, goodwill, and the potential for a recurring cycle of hope. Delve into the lyrics and discover how this imaginative narrative provides a fresh angle on a timeless message, encouraging reflection on the deeper meanings of the season.

[English]

A spaceman came traveling 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 a 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"

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-la-la

Peace and a 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-la-la

Oh-oh-oh

This lovely music went trembling through the ground

And many were wakened on hearing that sound

And travelers on the road, the village they found

By the light of that ship in the sky

Which shone all around

And 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-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 (oh-oh-oh-oh)

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

...

Key Grammar Structures

• A spaceman came traveling on his ship from afar

  ➔ Past Simple (came)

  ➔ Uses the simple past tense to describe a completed action in the past. "Came" indicates a single, finished trip.

• 'Twas light years of time since his mission did start

  ➔ Past Simple with auxiliary "did" (emphatic/archaic)

  ➔ Uses "did start" for emphasis or in an archaic style. While grammatically correct, the standard form would be "started".

• Where a mother and child were lying there on a bed

  ➔ Past Continuous (were lying)

  ➔ Describes an action in progress in the past. "Were lying" shows the ongoing state of the mother and child.

• I come from a planet a long way from here

  ➔ Present Simple (come)

  ➔ States a general truth or fact about the spaceman's origin. "Come" expresses a habitual or characteristic action.

• And I bring a message for mankind to hear

  ➔ Present Simple (bring) + Infinitive of Purpose (to hear)

  ➔ The present simple "bring" denotes a current action, while "to hear" expresses the purpose of bringing the message.

• This lovely music went trembling through the ground

  ➔ Past Simple (went) + Participle as Adjective (trembling)

  ➔ "Went" describes the action of the music moving, and "trembling" modifies the music, describing its quality.

• When two thousand years of your time has gone by

  ➔ Present Perfect (has gone)

  ➔ Uses the present perfect to indicate a time period that starts in the past and continues to the present or has relevance to the present. The implication is that the two thousand years will have elapsed at some point in the future from the point of the spaceman's departure and is thus relevant at that future point.

• The time is nearly here

  ➔ Present Simple (is)

  ➔ Uses the present simple "is" to express a current state or fact. The speaker perceives that the prophesied time is approaching.

• This song will begin once again to a baby's cry

  ➔ Future Simple (will begin)

  ➔ Uses the simple future tense to describe an event that will happen in the future. "Will begin" indicates a prediction about the song starting again.