“Spanish Train” by Chris deBurgh (1975)

Dad’s Song of the Day #83, Nov. 20, 2025

Brilliant Friend Arik suggested this great song, and it led to an interesting discussion about performers who “sell out.”

First, Chris deBurgh is a very famous and successful performer. He has sustained a career of more than 50 years. Sadly, he’s sucked for about 40 of them.

In the early days, he was a rather minor cult artist, with an act that resembled a medieval troubadour. I mean, he literally grew up in a 12th-century Irish castle!

Chris specialized in long story-songs, in a style that was a distinctive balance of folk, prog, and chamber music. He’d use an array of instruments, like flutes, mandolins and harpsichords to capture his characteristic sound.

And then…then…in the mid-80s, Chris deBurgh hit it HUGE with a monster, global number 1 hit called “The Lady in Red.” This song was nothing like any other in his catalogue: it was sappy, mawkish, over-polished, and just awful in every way.

I acknowledge it could very well be a beloved wedding song for some subscribers, but I’m sorry, if “The Lady in Red” had a face, it would look like this:

But, boy, was that song ever a life changer for good ol’ Chris: He made 10s of millions of dollars; He changed his fundamental musical style (forever!); and He became the King of schlocky, slow-dance sludge.

Thankfully, nothing can deny or change the high quality of his early records (“Far Beyond These Castle Walls,” “Spanish Train and Other Stories,” “Crusader,” and “Eastern Wind”), and I think you’d love them.

“Spanish Train” is awesome, in the full-on “awe” sense of the word. He’s utterly captivating, telling the story of God and the Devil, on a train, playing a game of poker…for the biggest stakes imaginable!

Can’t listen to this in the background, though: you need to follow along to find out what happens!!

Spotify:

YouTube:

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This series is for my two 19-year-olds, who moved off to school with the misguided belief they’d escaped their dad’s relentless nostalgia and monopolization of the car stereo. I’m very happy for anyone else to come along for the ride.

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The Spotify playlist for Dad’s Song of the Day is located here: