Watch Adam Sandler Sing a Touching Musical Tribute to Chris Farley
In his new Netflix special, 100% Fresh, Adam Sandler returns to his first love—musical comedy. And w..
In his new Netflix special, 100% Fresh, Adam Sandler returns to his first love—musical comedy. And while he may be associated first and foremost with tunes like “Lunch Lady Land” and “The Hanukkah Song,” the special also features a more sincere ditty: a simultaneously raw and loving ode to Chris Farley.
Sandler and Farley were best friends when they worked together on Saturday Night Live in the 90s. Farley left the sketch series in 1995, and died of a drug overdose in 1997. As Sandler sings about Farley in the special, he looks back on his friends vices and his sensitivity—and reiterates, unequivocally, that Farley was the funniest person he ever knew.
“First time I saw him he was sweeter than shit,” Sandler sings in the beginning—setting up the playful tone of the ballad to come. “Plaid jacket and belt too tight, he wasnt even doing a bit / Then he cartwheeled around the room and slow-danced with the cleaning lady / He was a one-man party / You know who Im talking about / Im talking about my friend Chris Farley.”
Sandler spends the rest of the song recalling some of Farleys most memorable S.N.L. moments, including his character Matt Foley, a certain episode involving Colombian coffee crystals, and the Gap Girls sketches that Sandler and Farley used to perform with David Spade. But he also sings about some darker memories. “After a show, hed drink a quart of Jack Daniels and stick the bottle right up his ass,” Sandler sang. “But hungover as hell, that Catholic boy always showed up to morning mass / Wed tell him slow down, youll end up like Belushi and Candy / He said those guys are my heroes; thats all fine and dandy / Im not making that shit up, thats the truth about my boy Chris Farley.”
The rest of the songs lyrics are below:
I saw him in the office crying with his headphones on
Listening to a KC and the Sunshine Band song
I said, “Buddy, how the hell is that making you so sad?”
Then he laughed and said, “Just thinkin about my dad”The last big hang we had was at Timmy Meadowss wedding party
We laughed our balls off all night long, all because of Farley
But a few months later the party came to an end
We flew out to Madison to bury our friend
Nothing was harder than saying goodbye
Except watching Chriss father have his turn to cryHey, buddy, lifes moved on but you still bring us so much joy
Make my kids laugh with your YouTube clips or Tommy Boy
And when they ask me whos the funniest guy I ever knew
Id tell em hands down, without a doubt, its you
Yeah, I miss hanging out watching you trying to get laid
But most of all I miss watching you fuck with Spade
Youre a legend like you wanted, but I still wish you were still here with me
And we were getting on a plane to shoot Grown Ups 3
It aint the same without you, boyThats why Im singing about Im singing about my friend Chris Farley
And if we make enough noise maybe hell hear us
Give it up for the great Chris Farley
More Great Stories from Vanity Fair
— The seven actors who have played Michael Myers open up about scaring children
— Peter Dinklages My Dinner with Hervé is a tragic, beautiful true story
— Ten movies and TV shows for the season of the witch
— The Star Is Born scene that scared Bradley Cooper
— Hello fall of fraud!
Looking for more? Sign up for our daily Hollywood newsletter and never miss a story.
Get Vanity Fairs HWD NewsletterSign up for essential industry and award news from Hollywood.Laura BradleyLaura Bradley is a Hollywood writer for VanityFair.com.
