Habit

Album: No Code (1996)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In Pearl Jam's 2011 book that accompanies their documentary Twenty, "Habit" is described as "a wake-up call to a drug-addled friend set to furious, detuned rock." Eddie Vedder wrote the music and lyrics.
  • The band played "Habit" a handful of times in the summer of 1995, a year before it appeared on their fourth album, No Code. Especially in the pre-internet age, Pearl Jam liked to start playing their songs as soon as they were written, which let them test them on an audience before they recorded them. The band ended up off the road from the end of 1995 until September 1996, when they toured for the album. A lot of this had to do with their battle with Ticketmaster - they refused to play venues where they had to use that service, which was quite challenging. Also, the band members were taking some time away from each other; guitarist Mike McCready was in a band called Mad Season with Layne Staley of Alice In Chains, and bass player Jeff Ament had a band called Three Fish.

Comments: 2

  • Anony Miss from NunyaUh, Mike wasn't a heroin addict Grant.
  • Grant from Croyde, United KingdomThe song is about Mike Mcready's heroin addiction, great song!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," Kiss

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."

Queen

QueenFact or Fiction

Scaramouch, a hoople and a superhero soundtrack - see if you can spot the real Queen stories.

Dean Pitchford

Dean PitchfordSongwriter Interviews

Dean wrote the screenplay and lyrics to all the songs in Footloose. His other hits include "Fame" and "All The Man That I Need."

Song Cities

Song CitiesMusic Quiz

Nirvana, Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen are among those who wrote songs with cities that show up in this quiz.

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees

Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Damn YankeesSongwriter Interviews

Revisit the awesome glory of Night Ranger and Damn Yankees: cheesily-acted videos, catchy guitar licks, long hair, and lyrics that are just plain relatable.

Michael W. Smith

Michael W. SmithSongwriter Interviews

Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."