Bad Habit

"**Bad Habit**" is the first single on Ben Platt's debut album *Sing to Me Instead*, and the first track overall. It was released on February 1, 2019.

It also featured as the first track on *Sing to Me Instead (Deluxe Edition)*.

## Background

Ben Platt premiered "Bad Habit" at the Foley Gallery in Manhattan, New York on February 1, 2019, at a pop-up promoting the release of the single.

*Entertainment Weekly* exclusively premiered the music video for the single on February 2, 2019. In the same interview, Platt expressed how the song was "from the perspective of someone looking retrospectively at a relationship that they have gotten out of and realizing that it's someone they can't seem to escape".

## Lyrics

**[Verse 1]**

You always said that I'd come back to you again

'Cause everybody needs a friend, it's true

Someone to quiet the voices in my head

Make 'em sing to me instead, it's you

**[Pre-chorus]**

Hate to say that I love you

Hate to say that I need you

Hate to say that I want you

But I do

**[Chorus]**

Bad habit, I know

But I'm needin' you right now

Can you help me out?

Can I lean on you?

Been one of those days

Sun don't wanna come out

Can you help me out?

Can I lean on you?

**[Verse 2]**

You make me feel like I'm floatin' off the ground

Above this little town, you do

Look at me smile with tears in my eyes

I love the way you lie, I do

**[Pre-chorus]**

Hate to say that I'm lonely

Hate to say that I miss you

Hate to say that it's dark in here

But it's true, oh

**[Chorus]**

Bad habit, I know

But I'm needin' you right now

Can you help me out?

Can I lean on you?

Been one of those days

Sun don't wanna come out

Can you help me out?

Can I lean on you?

**[Post-chorus]**

Oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Can I lean on you?

Oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

Can I lean on you?

**[Pre-chorus]**

Hate to say that I'm lonely

Hate to say that I miss you

Hate to say that it's dark in here

But it's true, oh

**[Chorus]**

Bad habit, I know

But I'm needin' you right now

Can you help me out?

Can I lean on you?

Oh, can I lean on you?

You

Can I lean on you?

**[Outro]**

Hate to say that I love you

Hate to say that I need you

Hate to say that I want you

But I do

## Music video

The music video for "Bad Habit" was released on February 2, 2019, the day after the single's release. It was directed by Nick Lieberman.

The video features Platt playing the piano and singing, before taking a stroll through town. He catches a cab, exiting the vehicle with intense emotions overwhelming him. The cab finally takes him to an art gallery, where he sees a man (portrayed by Charlie Carver) from behind wearing the same coat as him. Wandering around the gallery, he focuses on a photo of himself, causing him to tear up. He realizes that he is surrounded by memories, causing him to once again be overwhelmed with emotion. Following this, he removes his jacket, before lying down in bed. Cut to Platt lying in bed of a morning, whereupon he wakes up and goes to the other room. He finds his partner, the man from before, who suddenly grabs his camera and photographs Platt, creating the source of the prior photo.

## References

1. ↑ "How to See ‘Black Panther’ in Theaters (for Free!) + More NYC Events 2/1–7" - Backstage
2. ↑ "Ben Platt on his debut album, *Sing to Me Instead*: 'I definitely wanted to make music that sounded like me'" - Entertainment Weekly