{{Infobox song | name = Houston | cover =Houston (song).jpg |caption=Dutch release picture sleeve |border=yes | alt = | type = single | artist = Dean Martin | album = Houston | B-side = Bumming Around | released = 1965 | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = Country pop | length = {{Duration|m=2|s=38}} | label = Reprise | writer = Lee Hazlewood | producer = Jimmy Bowen | prev_title = (Remember Me) I'm the One Who Loves You | prev_year = 1965 | next_title = I Will | next_year = 1965 }}

"'''Houston'''" is a song written by Lee Hazlewood and first recorded in 1964 by Sanford Clark and best known from a hit version by Dean Martin.<ref>Erlewine, Michael (1997). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=7Mo7xm-X1r4C&pg=PA90 All Music Guide to Country: The Experts' Guide to the Best Recordings in Country Music]'', Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 90. Retrieved February 26, 2018.</ref><ref>Leszczak, Bob (2014). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=4egLBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA63 Who Did It First?: Great Rock and Roll Cover Songs and Their Original Artists]'', Rowman & Littlefield. p. 63. Retrieved February 26, 2018.</ref>

==Background== The lyrics are from the perspective on a down-on-his-luck drifter who describes himself as "a walkin' case of the blues". The verses describe his many misfortunes ("Saw a dollar yesterday, but the wind blew it away"), each ending with the repeated refrain "Going back to Houston, Houston, Houston&nbsp;...". The mood lightens on the final verse when the narrator reveals that despite his woes, he has a girlfriend waiting for him in the titular city. However, the narrator clarifies this by saying, "at least, she said she'd be." Musically, the song is orchestrated country pop with a medium tempo and strolling rhythm, with a brief harmonica solo. Sources differ as to how the distinctive percussive sound at the beginning and end of the song was created.

==Dean Martin recording== "Houston" was a hit in 1965 when recorded by Dean Martin. Dean Martin's daughter, Deana Martin, has recounted her father telling her that the percussive sound was created by tapping an empty Coca-Cola bottle with a spoon,<ref>Hoekstra, Dean. "[http://www.pressreader.com/usa/chicago-sun-times/20071125/284309655516485 Dean's daughter proves Martin is 'Forever Cool']", ''Chicago Sun-Times'', November 25, 2007. PressReader.com. Retrieved January 7, 2018.</ref> while Hal Blaine once stated that he created the sound by tapping a glass ash tray with a triangle wand.<ref>''[https://books.google.com/books?id=R_HZJoRRH78C&pg=PA108 Instrument]'', Chronicle Books, p. 108. October 5, 2011. Retrieved January 7, 2018.</ref><ref>Young, Robin and Jeremy Hobson. "[http://hereandnow.legacy.wbur.org/2012/04/20/musicians-wrecking-crew The musicians behind the great bands that got the credit]", ''Here and Now'', WBUR-FM, April 20, 2012. Retrieved January 7, 2018.</ref>

==Chart performance== Martin's version spent 9 weeks on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 21,<ref>[http://www.billboard.com/artist/300598/dean-martin/chart Dean Martin&nbsp;— Chart History&nbsp;— The Hot 100], ''Billboard.com''. Accessed August 14, 2016.</ref> while reaching No. 2 on ''Billboard''{{'}}s Easy Listening chart,<ref>[http://www.billboard.com/artist/300598/dean-martin/chart?f=341 Dean Martin&nbsp;— Chart History&nbsp;— Adult Contemporary], ''Billboard.com''. Accessed August 15, 2016.</ref><ref>"[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/60s/1965/Billboard%201965-09-18.pdf Billboard Top 40 Easy Listening]", ''Billboard'', September 18, 1965. p. 20. Accessed August 14, 2016.</ref> and No. 11 on Canada's CHUM Hit Parade.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.1050chum.com/charts/chartview.aspx?img=19650920 |title=CHUM Hit Parade&nbsp;— Week of September 20, 1965 |access-date=2016-08-15 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061107210434/http://www.1050chum.com/charts/chartview.aspx?img=19650920 |archivedate=November 7, 2006 }} Chart No. 445. CHUM.</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! align="left"|Chart (1965) ! style="text-align:center;"|Peak<br />position |- | align="left"|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 | style="text-align:center;"|21 |- | align="left"|US ''Billboard'' Easy Listening | style="text-align:center;"|2 |- | align="left"|Canada&nbsp;— CHUM Hit Parade | style="text-align:center;"|11 |}

==Cover versions== Bobby Bare recorded the song for his album, ''The Streets of Baltimore'', released in 1966.<ref>{{Discogs release|id=3093334|name=The Streets of Baltimore|type=album}}</ref>

The English post-punk group The Fall recorded a version of the song on ''The Real New Fall LP (Formerly Country on the Click)'' (2003). Apart from a harsh electronic introduction and minor changes to the lyrics, ''e.g.,'' chasing a £10 note rather than a dollar, The Fall interpretation is faithful to the original's melody and basic structure.

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Dean Martin}}

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Category:1965 singles Category:1965 songs Category:Dean Martin songs Category:Reprise Records singles Category:Song recordings produced by Jimmy Bowen Category:Songs written by Lee Hazlewood Category:The Fall (band) songs