A Vulnerable Hank Williams Jr. Performs Heartbreaking Ballad ‘Old Habits’

James Stiltner/YouTube

Like any good country singer, Hank Williams Jr. has a large repertoire of songs. He has loud and rowdy anthems, as well as heartbreaking ballads and everything in between.

One of his ballads that will hit you right in the gut is “Old Habits”. Comparing a break up to being addicted to cigarettes, a heartbroken Hank Jr. sings, “Old habits like you, are hard to break/Love with someone new, is so hard to make.”

Hank Jr. released “Old Habits” on August 30, 1980 as the second single from his album Habits Old and New. The song reached the Top Ten on the Billboard country charts and is still a fan favorite at his live shows.

If you’ve ever been through a tough break-up, you will definitely relate to his heart-wrenching ballad that includes the lyrics, “I use lifesavers, to help me get off cigarettes/But you know for your love, I ain’t found no lifesavers yet.”

In this live performance of “Old Habits”, the country legend embraced the slow feel of song, even moving extremely slowly away from the mic in between lyrics. To be able to not only write a song like this, but also to perform it is extremely vulnerable and Hank Jr. proved he is willing to go there to make an incredible country song.

Watch Hank Jr. perform “Old Habits” below.