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Listen to Tom Waits’ New Spoken-Word Track “The Fly”
Tom Waits has released a new spoken-word track called "The Fly", marking his second new release of 2026 after a fallow period of nearly 15 years without original music. The song, dedicated to the household pest, was co-written with his wife Kathleen Brennan and accompanied by a lyric video animated by their son, Casey, making it a family collaboration.
"The Fly" will serve as the B-side to "Boots on the Ground", a protest song Waits released earlier this year with Massive Attack, which had been his first new music since 2011's Bad as Me. Both tracks will feature on a benefit 12" vinyl due out on 4 September, with proceeds supporting civil rights and community advocacy organisations. Waits has also recently contributed to a tribute compilation for the late Shane McGowan and stars in Martin McDonagh's forthcoming film Wild Horse Nine, alongside John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi and Parker Posey, out on 6 November.
In short
- Tom Waits releases new spoken-word track "The Fly"
- Co-written with wife, video animated by son
- Benefit vinyl out 4 September for civil rights causes
Explained simply
Tom Waits is an American singer-songwriter and actor known for music that blends singing, spoken words and experimental sounds. His wife, Kathleen Brennan, has long collaborated with him on songwriting, while their son Casey has worked on the visual side of this release.
Waits released his last studio album of original songs, Bad as Me, in 2011, and has put out little new music since. Earlier this year, he joined the British group Massive Attack on a protest song, bringing him back to recorded music after that long gap.
The two tracks are being issued together on a benefit vinyl record, with proceeds going to civil rights and community advocacy organisations. The release connects Waits’s return to music with fundraising, while his recent work also includes a contribution to a Shane MacGowan tribute and a role in an upcoming film.