Healy released his debut solo album, titled "Wreckorder", on October 4th on his private label, WreckordLabel. The album was recorded late in 2009 in Berlin and New York (and Berlin is where Fran currently lives), before being completed in Vermont early in 2010. The album was produced by Emery Dobyns, with contributions from Paul McCartney, Neko Case and Tom Hobden from Noah and the Whale. As a thank you to Paul McCartney, Fran has become a vegetarian.
Fly In the Ointment
Fran Healy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Minding my own business
When a man walk up to me
And he said "Hey don't fall
And anyways
What's a nice guy like you doing sitting on the wall?"
And I said
"I don't like flies in my ointment
You'll make me late for my appointment
Late for my appointment with my best friend in the bar"
Well I was down on the ground
Minding my own business when a snail slid up to me
And he said "Hey, slow down
And anyways, you ain't got no business rushing around"
And I said
"Stop acting like a fly in my ointment
Cause that's what you are
You'll make me late for my appointment
Late for my appointment with my best friend in the bar"
I was high in the sky
Minding my own business when a jumbo jet flew by
And all the people inside
Staring out the window giving me the evil eye
And I said
" I feel like a fly in the ointment
And I don't know why
Please help me I'm late for my appointment
Late for my appointment with my best friend in the bar
He's waiting in the bar
He's waiting in the bar"
Fran Healy's Fly In the Ointment is a metaphorical song that depicts the singer's struggles while trying to keep up with his daily activities. The song starts with the singer describing himself as someone who is just minding his own business when a man walks up to him and asks what he's doing on the wall. The man's comment brings up the issue of unexpected obstacles that come up in people's lives, and this is represented by the man's unwelcome interference in the singer's life.
The singer uses the metaphor of a fly in the ointment to describe the man's presence in his life. He is trying to say that the man's appearance is causing him to lose focus and making him late for an appointment with his best friend in the bar. The second verse features a snail that stops the singer to remind him that he needs to slow down and not rush around. In the same manner, the singer describes the snail as a fly in his ointment, again representing unexpected obstacles.
The third verse sees the singer in the sky, and a jumbo jet flies by with people staring at him with the "evil eye." The jumbo jet's occupants are given the power to act as an obstacle to the singer, even though they might not be doing anything significant. The song ends with the singer pleading for help, saying he feels like a fly in the ointment, and he is running late for his appointment with his best friend in the bar.
Overall, the song is a representation of the daily struggles people face when trying to keep up with their activities. Unexpected obstacles arise, and it is up to individuals to choose how they handle them. Fran Healy uses the metaphor of a fly in the ointment to represent these obstacles, showing that sometimes, it only takes a small thing to disrupt one's entire day.
Line by Line Meaning
I was on my wall
I was perched up on my wall
Minding my own business
Not bothering anyone or anything
When a man walk up to me
When an unfamiliar man approached me
And he said "Hey don't fall
He warned me not to fall down from the wall
And anyways
Then he asked me anyways..
What's a nice guy like you doing sitting on the wall?"
What's a nice person like you doing just sitting on the wall?
And I said
I replied
"I don't like flies in my ointment
"I don't like disturbances in my peace
And that's what you are
And that's what you appear to be
You'll make me late for my appointment
You'll make me run late for my planned time
Late for my appointment with my best friend in the bar"
Late to meet my best friend at the bar
Well I was down on the ground
I was walking on the ground
Minding my own business when a snail slid up to me
When a snail unexpectedly approached me
And he said "Hey, slow down
He advised me to slow down
And anyways, you ain't got no business rushing around"
And besides, there's no reason for you to be hurrying
And I said
So I responded
"Stop acting like a fly in my ointment
"Stop being a nuisance to me
Cause that's what you are
Because that's what you're being
You'll make me late for my appointment
You'll cause me to be tardy for my planned engagement
Late for my appointment with my best friend in the bar"
Late to meet up with my closest companion at the pub
I was high in the sky
I was soaring high in the sky
Minding my own business when a jumbo jet flew by
Not disturbing anyone or anything when a jumbo jet flew past me
And all the people inside
And everyone inside the jet
Staring out the window giving me the evil eye
Gave me dirty or disapproving looks through the window
And I said
So I exclaimed
"I feel like a fly in the ointment
"I feel like a disturbance in someone else's peace
And I don't know why
And I'm unsure of the reason
Please help me I'm late for my appointment
Please assist me, I'm already running behind for my scheduled event
Late for my appointment with my best friend in the bar
Late to meet up with my closest companion at the pub
He's waiting in the bar
My closest companion is waiting for me at the pub
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@15luisrivas
That man is a genius!!!!!!!!
@antony9384
Fran and Travis are my musical gods
@winasls
I can never find a singer or a songwriter that brings so much emotions to me through music better than Fran Healy. His songs can be considered rather quiet(compared to my other favorites), but underneath those calm melodies it's full of emotions that it overwhelms me everytime. In other words, I love Fran. <3
@ketokonazol
fran healy best singer in the world
@BillyReedMusic
Great performance. Such a great songwriter!
@Gravitymann
Fran is the man.
@berkayunlu9813
sing your songs forever, and we continue to listen songs...
@MrSdokhan
Fly in the ointment and see how he mix with ideas . Love to hear it
@livemarcosferreiracacopoet9346
I didn't know this song #travis and i like very much Fran Healy and play now with the band
@JBBost
She just punched the hell out of that light, lol!
HELL YEAH PUNK ROCK!