We’ve had about a million late night talks with our friend Zia. They’ve been lively conversations that could digress, spin out of control, or get over embellished—taking the three of us just about anywhere. We talked about whatever came to mind, as though we really had “information” to share.

One night, Em started a conversation about bad habits. Days later, we continued to pick around at the topic, of course uncovering numerous “bad habits.” Curiously though, we seem to be attached to them, not willing to let go.

Why would we continue doing something when it was obvious that those habits were getting in the way of what we said we really wanted to do? As usual, a new song developed as a way to explore and hopefully unlock some of our useless patterns that continually get in the way.

Lyrics

Stuck under my skin
Sliver of wood
This irritation
Does me no good

Lurking, creeping, sneaking back
Bad habits prowl

At first it’s something special
Charming quirk or a nervous tap
Uniquely individual
What makes good habits go bad
Good habits go bad

Tossing and turning, too restless to sleep
Pacing the floor, ruts surprisingly deep
Night winds howl chilling me to the bone
These bad habits have lives of their own

Caught in my throat
Little white lie
Muffled cough
Tear in my eye

Lurking, creeping, sneaking back
Bad habits crawl

By now it’s nothing special
It’s turned into a character flaw
My worst traits accentuated
These bad habits continue to gnaw
Hungry habits gnaw at me
Hungry habits gnaw

Tossing and turning, too restless to sleep
Pacing the floor, ruts surprisingly deep
Night winds howl, chilling me to the bone
These bad habits have lives of their own

Bad habits creep
Bad habits crawl, they creep and crawl
Bad habits prowl
Sneaky old bad habits
They get the best of me
The very best of me
Bad habits get the best of me

Credits

From Reason to Stay, track released 01 January 2005
Cheryl Martlage – Lyrics and vocals
Emerson Martlage – Music, guitar and vocals
Tom Tomasello – Producer/Arranger
Jim Bruno – Vocal producer
Mr Toad’s San Francisco – Mastering