C/O Artist
On June 29th Steve Lacy released the second single from his latest album Gemini Rights, “Bad Habit,” and it became an overnight hit. Not only did the song blow up on Tik Tok, but it also debuted on the Billboard 100 at #100 for the week ending on July 16th, making this Steve Lacy’s first time on the chart.
Lacy, in his composition, takes listeners on a journey of ‘what-ifs’ and untold emotions, weaving a narrative of a potential romance that remained unexplored due to unvoiced sentiments. What sets this song apart isn’t merely the infectious rhythm it is set to, but the profound narrative embodied in its lyrics. It resonates universally, as it prompts contemplation of missed opportunities that everyone has undoubtedly experienced at some point in their lives. Now, let’s take a closer look at the lyrical storytelling that makes this piece so impactful.
Lyrics To Steve Lacy’s “Bad Habit”
Intro
I wish I knew you wanted me
I wish I knew, I wish I knew you wanted me
I wish I knew, I wish I knew you wanted me
Verse 1
What you, ooh, uh, what you do?
Made a move, coulda made a move
If I knew I’d be with you
Is it too late to pursue?
Chorus
I bite my tongue, it’s a bad habit
Kinda mad that I didn’t take a stab at it
Thought you were too good for me, my dear
Never gave me the time of day, my dear
It’s okay, things happen for
Reasons that I think are sure, yeah
Post-Chorus
I wish I knew, I wish I knew you
Wanted me (I wish I knew)
I wish I knew (oh), I wish I knew
You wanted me (oh)
I wish I knew, I wish I knew you
Wanted me
Verse 2
Please say to me (please just say to me)
If this could wind up
I wish you wouldn’t play with me
I wanna know (oh no)
Chorus
Uh, can I bite your tongue like my bad habit?
Would you mind if I tried to make a pass at it?
Were you not too good for me my dear?
Funny you come back to me my dear
It’s ok things, happen for
Reasons that I can’t ignore, yeah
Post-Chorus
I wish I knew, I wish I knew you
Wanted me
I wish I knew (wish I knew), I wish I
Knew you wanted me (oh)
Bridge
You can’t surprise a Gemini
I’m everywhere , I’m cross-eyed, and
Now that you’re back, I can’t decide
If I decide you’re invited
You always knew the way to wow me
Fuck around, get tongue-tied, and
I turn it on, I make it rowdy
Then carry on, but I’m not hidin’
You grabbin’ me hard ’cause you know
What you found
Is biscuits, is grave, babe, ah-ah
Outro
You can’t surprise a Gemini
But you know it’s biscuits, is gravy,
Babe
I knew you’d come back around
‘Cause you know it’s biscuits, it’s
Gravy, babe
Let’s fuck in the back of the mall, lose
Control
Go stupid, go crazy, babe
I know I’ll be in your heart ’til the end
You’ll miss me, don’t beg me, babe
Analysis Of Steve Lacy’s “Bad Habit”
Verse 1 Breakdown
In the first verse, Lacy is talking about how he wishes he knew that the person he had feelings for felt the same way. He’s saying that if he knew the feelings were reciprocated he would’ve pursued them.
Often times it’s our own thoughts that get in the way of what we want, especially when it comes to romantic relationships. We think that if we tell this other person how we feel then it’ll ruin things, when in reality that is not always the case.
Chorus 1 Breakdown
In the opening line of the chorus, Lacy says:
“I bite my tongue, it’s a bad habit”.
Often times we bite our tongues when it comes to telling people how we feel, not just in romantic relationships, but in all relationships in our lives. We are so afraid of the outcome that we feel it’s better to just not say anything than take the chance.
In the next part of the chorus, Lacy lists excuses as to why he didn’t tell the other person his feelings.
“Thought you were too good for me… never gave me the time of day”.
It’s often easier to use excuses as reasons for not going after what we want. It can feel a lot safer to go with the easier route when making decisions, but safer isn’t always better. We often miss out on opportunities that we really want because of fear of rejection.
Lacy then goes on to say
“it’s ok, things happen for reasons that I think are sure”
The phrase everything happens for a reason is one that comes to mind when I hear this lyric. We may not fully believe it in the moment, especially when it comes to things we aren’t fond of, but it can be easier to tell ourselves this; it gives us a reason to accept something and gain closure.
Verse 2 Breakdown
In the second verse, Lacy is asking the other person to tell them their feelings towards him, and to stop playing games and playing with his emotions. It can become exhausting trying to figure out how another person feels about us, it can feel like this never-ending cycle.
For some reason though, we still stick around, hanging on to the hope that this could be something, but instead, we continue to hurt our own feelings by holding onto a possibility.
Chorus 2 Breakdown
The second chorus is slightly different from the first. Lacy opens this chorus by saying
“can I bite your tongue like my bad habit”.
Lacy is becoming more direct as the song goes on, he’s starting to become impatient with the other person. He’s starting to realize that things could work out and that this person may have feelings for him.
Bridge Breakdown
Lacy opens the bridge by saying:
“You can’t surprise a Gemini, I’m everywhere I’m cross-eyed”.
According to Astrology, Gemini’s are considered to be two-faced. Lacy implies that no matter what the other person says or does, it won’t catch him off guard because there is always a part of him expecting whatever the outcome may be.
Lacy then goes on in the rest of the bridge to talk about how good the relationship with this other person would be, that they both would be happy, and that the other person would be making the right decision by being with him.
At one time or another, we’ve imagined what it would be like to be with the person we are interested in. This is often an ideal picture where everything is perfect, the equivalent to biscuits and gravy as Lacy puts it.
Outro Breakdown
In the outro, Lacy is essentially saying everything he said in the bridge.
The only real difference is he is saying that even though they are not together, that the other person will miss him and regret not taking this chance, just like him.
Stream Steve Lacy’s song “Bad Habit” and the rest of his album Gemini Rights down below!
