Tom Waits has shared the full version of his darkly comic spoken-word track “The Fly,” marking another unorthodox addition to his catalog. Released as the B-side to his politically charged collaboration with Massive Attack titled “Boots On The Ground,” the new piece offers a characteristically sardonic tribute to the brief and unloved life of the common housefly. The release deepens Waits’ recent creative output, arriving alongside a physical vinyl rollout and a striking lyric video illustrated by the artist’s son, Casey Waits.
The song builds on a long tradition of spoken-word storytelling by the musician, following in the footsteps of earlier pieces like “What’s He Building In There?” and “The Ocean Doesn’t Want Me.” In the track, Waits recites lines that paint a vivid, cynical picture of the insect: “You have no house, well you have mine / You have no real friends, stay away from the wine,” before adding, “House fly go to sleep, say goodbye / No one will weep when you die.” Elaborating on the inspiration behind the release, Waits noted that humanity’s ongoing chaos provides an endless supply of material, stating that “man’s folly of fiascos is a feast for the flies.”
That collaboration was accompanied by a powerful companion film created by Massive Attack and US photographer thefinaleye, featuring imagery confronting state authoritarianism, the militarisation of domestic forces, and protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids.
Massive Attack praised the partnership as a career honour, noting that the collaboration emerged during a tense sociopolitical climate across the Western hemisphere. According to a statement from the group, the project captures “pulses of callous impulse and abandoned mind” as neo-fascist politics intersect with state enforcement. Fans can secure the physical release when both tracks land on a 12-inch vinyl edition featuring an EcoSonic 180-gram pressing made from recycled materials to minimize environmental impact.
A Legacy of Spoken-Word Artistry
Throughout his career, Tom Waits has frequently blended musical composition with theatrical, rhythmic recitation. “The Fly” fits into this performance style, utilizing sparse instrumentation and stark imagery. The accompanying lyric video, brought to life through illustrations by Casey Waits, underscores the macabre humor of the lyrics. Lines like “You’re handsome and thin, you try to blend in / You bastard, sitting around all over the place” showcase the songwriter’s gift for projecting human flaws onto pests.
Waits observed that the theme of the track remains perennially relevant. “Today, as in all of mankind’s yesterdays, guarantees this type of song will never go out of style,” he remarked. The 76-year-old artist has maintained a selective release schedule in recent years, though industry activity has hinted at ongoing creative momentum. In 2023, longtime music agent Paul Charles mentioned that Waits had been writing again, sparking speculation about future live performances.
Recent Archival Curations and Physical Releases
That curated set featured covers by artists including Johnny Cash, Bruce Springsteen, the Ramones, Willie Nelson, and Marianne Faithfull, illustrating the reach of Waits’ songwriting across multiple genres.
The 12-inch vinyl release for “Boots On The Ground” and “The Fly” is scheduled to reach record stores and online retailers, offering red, white, and blue EcoSonic color variants. As listeners dive into the digital drop of “The Fly,” anticipation continues to build around whether these collaborations signal a broader return to active recording and touring for the artist.
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