About the Song
Released in February 1972 on the album Good Hearted Woman, “One of My Bad Habits” by Waylon Jennings offers a candid and reflective slice of the transitional period in Jennings’ career, just as he was stepping closer toward the outlaw country identity.
In this track, Jennings leans into a theme that many can recognise—the recognition of personal flaws, the cyclical nature of behaviour, and the weariness that comes with living with your own imperfections. The title itself sets the tone: this isn’t a dramatic turning point, but a subtle, inward-facing observation that says: “Yes, this is something I keep doing.” And Jennings delivers it with the measured conviction of a man who has seen too many sunrises on the road to pretend he hasn’t been “off course” more than once.
Musically, the song blends traditional country instrumentation—steady rhythm, pedal steel featured under the surface, warm acoustic textures—with Jennings’ strong, lived-in vocal tone. His voice carries the weight of mileage, of nights spent under neon lights and mornings filled with regret and resolve. There’s no frills here—just a man singing about his own tendency to drift or stumble, rather than claiming hero status. For listeners who’ve lived enough years to know their own “bad habits,” the track lands with authenticity.
Within the context of the album Good Hearted Woman, “One of My Bad Habits” sits among songs of love, loss, longing, and navigation through changing times. The album itself represents a pivot point: on one hand rooted in classic Nashville production and on the other pointing toward the freedom and personal agency that would define Jennings’ outlaw era. The presence of this track underscores that shift—it is both self-aware and resilient.
For an older audience, the song stands as a quiet but honest reckoning. It doesn’t dramatize the sin; it acknowledges it. It doesn’t promise immediate redemption; it merely recognises the pattern. And sometimes, that’s the most honest kind of song—when the reckoning is gentle, grounded, and real.
In short, “One of My Bad Habits” is a testament to Waylon Jennings’ ability to sing not just about the road or the whiskey or the rebel life—but about the inward journeys, the subtle admissions, and the lifelong effort to do better even when you’ve done it wrong before.