Today’s Song: Grace Enger’s “Habits Die Hard” Is a Hidden Treasure in Her New EP

Grace Enger © courtesy of the artist
Grace Enger © courtesy of the artist
Grace Enger’s second EP, titled ‘The Alchemist,’ represents an important chapter in the narrative of her life, and its most profound page belongs to “Habits Die Hard.”
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Stream: “Habits Die Hard” – Grace Enger




As if born from a film score, Grace Enger’s “Habits Die Hard” is as unexpected as it is remarkable.

The American singer shows a strong sincerity and emotional depth, as well as transformation, throughout the fourth track of her latest release, The Alchemist.

The Alchemist - Grace Enger
The Alchemist – Grace Enger
I’m getting everything that I wanted
Everybody says they’re proud
I guess I thought when I got it
You would want me by now
Habits die hard
But I didn’t think you’d
linger in the good parts

Even though the new EP is overall introspective and intricate, “Habits Die Hard” could be the most revealing and love-conflicting of the record’s seven tracks. A song about losing and, still, loving someone, Enger opens up her heart and especially her mind in an alt-pop tune. The first impression of it would be that it is the ordinary, slow heartbreak anthem.

Nonetheless, a bit more than a minute in, Enger sorrowfully sings, “Oh, what to do when I’m still in love with you / It’s a shadow, it’s a disease,” before the beat drop that entraps the listener.

So I go out with new friends
And none of them know your name
It’s funny how you mean nothing to them
While you’re eating up a part of my brain
Habits die hard
But I didn’t think you’d
linger in the good parts
Oh, what to do when I’m still in love with you
It’s a shadow, it’s a disease
It’s a cancer, how it eats me
God, nothing’s new,
you still take up every room

Guess it’s nice to know
that nothing really changes

Guess it’s nice to know
you won’t care when I’m famous
Grace Enger © courtesy of the artist
Grace Enger © courtesy of the artist



The sudden rhythm change is led by guitar chords and drums that match Enger’s run through a maze of questions and built-up thoughts on what that person, or past lover, must be doing, while they are unaware of the singer’s lingering sentiment for them.

It’s funny how you mean nothing to them / While you’re eating up a part of my brain,” reflects irony and the inexistent grip on someone who isn’t present: in these lyrics in which Enger sings that her friends don’t know or bother about this person that she can’t stop thinking of, not only does she hand over her honesty, but also an understanding for listeners who have undergone heartbreak, loss, or even obsession.

Besides the emotional heaviness and loss confessed in the song, between the vocals and instrumentation, there is a message on value and self-worth. Throughout the track, Enger mentions her success and growing recognition as the perfect reason for that someone to really see her. In another sense, reaching for perfection and accomplishment is perhaps never the solution for catching someone’s love or attention.

I wonder what you could be doing
At least a couple times today
Probably stressing about schoolwork
Or going on a bad first date
Habits die hard
But I didn’t think you’d linger from this far
Oh, what to do when I’m still in love with you
It’s a shadow, it’s a disease (ooh, ooh)
It’s a cancer, how it eats me
God, nothing’s new,
you still take up every room

Guess it’s nice to know
that nothing really changes (ooh)

Guess it’s nice to know
you won’t care when I’m famous
Grace Enger © courtesy of the artist
Grace Enger © courtesy of the artist



Habits Die Hard - Grace Enger
single art for Grace Enger’s “Habits Die Hard”

The singer/songwriter made a post in her Instagram account for the track’s release, in which she expressed, “There are so many people supporting me, but I only wanted one person in particular to care, hoping they would suddenly wake up and realize that they wanted me all along! – I’ve clearly watched too many John Hughes movies. This song is about hoping if you’re perfect you’ll be finally enough for someone.”

By creating and sharing this experience in lyrics that are heartfelt and modernly poetic, Enger has accomplished to take hold of confusion and lament, and yet to let go of them as well.

Despite what began as a message of frustration to a lost lover, the song’s two turning points send it into an upswing: The beat drop, mentioned before, and the last couple of verses. “And you hear me in your care ride and wish you brought me home” is the final snippet and enough for the singer to realize it isn’t only about the value she is giving that person, but about the value she was wrongfully given as well.

After all, the ending of the song leaves a message worth sticking to, and one that Enger wrote to her fans as well: “This song taught me the right people will love you for who you are and not who you’re trying to be.”

I could be a big someone,
curtains and the lights come up,
do you see me?

Now am I someone to love,
now am I someone to love?

I could be a big someone,
still I’m never good enough

It’s the part of me I can’t outrun,
the habit that I can’t give up
But would you miss me sometimes
on a night when no one’s over?

Would you miss me
if I wrote you one last song?

Will you miss me sometimes
when you look up and we’re older?

And you hear me in your car ride
and wish you brought me home

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:: stream/purchase The Alchemist here ::
:: connect with Grace Enger here ::

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Stream: “Habits Die Hard” – Grace Enger



— — — —

The Alchemist - Grace Enger

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