ACCELERATE: HOUSTON

   According to Michael he wrapped up these lyrics about five minutes before going on in Dublin and it turned out to be one of Peter's favorite lyrical moments on the album. The song is very short, compacting everything it needs into a brief time frame, possibly symbolizing the quickness with which people can lose everything. From the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, this song could've been a scorching of the Bush response and while that is in there with the excellent first line, the song leans more toward the human cost of natural disasters and the strength it takes to trudge ahead. While the song is very short, I can't imagine a longer version--and this dilemma is rectified with the sequel 'Oh My Heart' on CIN. I've always enjoyed this song because it feels and sounds like an epic natural disaster, and through its succinctness there's a novel's worth of narrative. Also, those of us fans following the story of Michael's love for the song Galveston (originally by Don Ho, but popularized by Glen Campbell and Jimmy Webb)--from the covers to the 'Karaoke Story'--get a satisfying name drop. I have to throw this great live version down over the album version:




HOUSTON

If the storm doesn't kill me the government will

I've got to get that out of my head

It's a new day today and the coffee is strong

I finally got some rest

So a man's put to task and challenges

I was taught to hold my head high

Collect what is mine, make the best of what today has

Houston is filled with promise

Laredo’s a beautiful place

And Galveston sings like that song that I loved

Its meaning has not been erased

And so there are claims forgiven

And so there are things that are gone

Houston is filled with promise

Laredo’s a beautiful place

And Galveston sings like that song that I loved

Its meaning has not been erased

And some things, they fall to the wayside

Their memories yet to be stilled

Belief has not filled me

And so I am put to the test

   This is a really fun song to play on acoustic with its hammers and walks. I've added the little bit of mandolin in the background and the heavily distorted atmospheric notes which may or may not be the bass, but are a fun addition. I particularly like how it seems to end on the Middle 8 with a new progression. I've also made the final mandolin chord a Dm which is more in the spirit of the verse chords, in fact if you substitute the Dm for the D2 in the guitar line it sounds cool as well.


HOUSTON

Intro

e|-0---0--|

B|-6---5--|

G|-7---4--|

D|-0---0--|

A|--------|

E|--------|

Verse

e|-0---0---0---3--|-0---0---0-----0--|

B|-3---1h--1---3--|-3---1h--1-----0--|

G|-2---0---0---0--|-2---0---0-----0--|

D|-0---2h--2---5--|-0---2h--2-----2--|

A|-----0---3h--5--|-----0---3-2-0-2--|

E|-----0---0---0--|-----0---0-----0--|

Verse Slide

e|--------------|

B|--------------|

G|--------------|

D|-0---0--0-0---|

A|-5---5>10-5---|

E|-0---0--0-0---|

Chorus

e|-0---0--------1---3----|

B|-7---5--------1---3----|

G|-7---5--------2---4----|

D|-7---5--------3---5----|

A|-0---0--------3---5----|

E|-0---0---x3---1---3----|

Chorus (Mandolin)

e|-2---0----0------0---3--|

a|-0---3---5-------0---2--|

d|-0---2-----------3---0--|

g|-2---0------x3---5---0--|

Outro

e|-0---1---3---0---1---3---0--|

B|-3---1---3---3---1---3---3--|

G|-2---2---4---2---2---4---2--|

D|-0---3---5---0---3---5---0--|

A|-----3---5-------3---5------|

E|-----1---3-------1---3------|

Outro (Mandolin)

e|-1---0---3---1---0---3---1--|

a|-0---0---2---0---0---2---0--|

d|-0---3---0---0---3---0---0--|

g|-2---5---0---2---5---0---2--|