Tom Waits released a new spoken-word track titled “The Fly” on July 31, 2026 [1, 2, 3].
The release expands the sonic palette of Waits' recent work and provides a companion piece to his collaboration with Massive Attack. By utilizing the spoken-word format, the artist returns to a storytelling tradition that emphasizes lyricism and atmospheric performance over traditional song structure.
“The Fly” serves as the B-side to the collaboration with Massive Attack titled “Boots on the Ground” [1, 4, 5]. The track is described as a wry, comic monologue set to music [2]. It explores themes of annoyance and mortality through a darkly comic lens, focusing on the relationship between a human and a common insect.
Waits said the piece was “my appreciation for the winged nuisance” [1]. The monologue contains stark imagery, including the line, “No one’ll weep when you die” [4].
The recording is currently available for streaming online via major music platforms and the official channels of the artists [1, 2, 6]. This digital distribution allows the track to reach a global audience immediately following its release.
Waits said the work was "a wry, comic monologue set to music" [2]. The pairing of this track with the Massive Attack project suggests a conceptual link between the two pieces, contrasting the intensity of "Boots on the Ground" with the observational humor of "The Fly."
“"My appreciation for the winged nuisance."”
The release of "The Fly" signals a continued interest from Tom Waits in experimental, non-linear storytelling. By pairing a darkly comedic spoken-word piece with a high-profile collaboration like "Boots on the Ground," Waits maintains his reputation for subverting commercial expectations, offering listeners an avant-garde contrast to the primary single.
