# Listen to Tom Waits’ New Spoken-Word Track “The Fly”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/listen-to-tom-waits-new-spoken-word-track-the-fly/
- Published: 2026-08-02T17:37:11+00:00
- Updated: 2026-08-02T18:05:40+00:00
- Original publisher: Pitchfork
- Original article: https://pitchfork.com/story/listen-to-tom-waits-new-spoken-word-track-the-fly/
- Topics: Music

## Key points

- 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

## Summary

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.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.