Coldplay write, perform new song 'Houston #1' for Hurricane Harvey victims

  • 30/08/2017
Chris Martin introduced the song after remarking on Houston's harmony and determination.
Chris Martin introduced the song after remarking on Houston's harmony and determination. Photo credit: Getty

British pop-rock band Coldplay offered up a heartfelt tribute to victims of the devastating Hurricane Harvey with a one-off performance of a song they wrote.

Entitled 'Houston #1', it's an ode to the city they'd been scheduled to play in just days earlier before being forced to postpone, and the "harmony" and determination of its inhabitants.

At a concert in Miami on Monday night (local time), frontman Chris Martin spoke of the tragedy of the storm and disappointment at cancelling their show there.

"We were supposed to play in Houston on Friday, and we were there in the morning and were hoping it would be okay - of course, the hurricane was coming," frontman Chris Martin said.

"A lot of people were supposed to be coming to the concert and we let them down. We're so grateful for all of the people that come to our shows, and cancelling shows is not something we like to do - but in this instance we kind of had to.

"Sometimes you might think that as a popular band we don't give a sh*t where we are, but we really do because we understand that we wouldn't be here without you guys and girls."

Martin then requested that the Floridian audience send some of the "beautiful atmosphere" over to Houston, because "they need it", before introducing the song - which he promised Coldplay would only perform on one occasion.

"We really miss playing [in Houston], and we're going to go back there. And we thought, since we're in Miami and had a couple of days to spare, let's write a song for Houston and sing it to you tonight and send it over there in all the spirit of joy and friendship and hopefulness," he said.

"This is called 'Houston #1'. We all grew up loving country music, and of course that's kind of what we think of when we go to Texas.

"So, if you'll bear with us, this is a new song and we'll never play this again - it's a once-off."

The band then started playing the song, an acoustic country tune - and it was met with great enthusiasm by the band's Miami audience.

The lyrics for Coldplay's 'Houston #1' are as follows:

I'm dreamin' of when I get back to Houston,
I'm dreamin' of that very special place,
I'm dreamin' of when Houston has no problems,
In that city where they send you into space

I'm dreamin' of when I get back to Texas,
Corpus Christi, Harris County, Galveston,
There's a harmony that bonds down there in Houston,
Oh, Houston, you got to keep on keepin' on

From Miami, we are sending love to Houston,
We're praying that you make it through the rain,
I know nothing's gonna break the will of Houston,
Oh, how we can't wait to go down there again

I'm dreamin' of when I get back to Texas,
Corpus Christi, Harris County, Galveston,
There's a harmony that bonds down there in Houston,
Oh, Houston you got to keep on keepin' on

Newshub.