Down With Boring

Join thousands of music lovers getting the best new tracks, exclusive interviews, and breaking news delivered straight to your inbox every week.

In print now

May 2026

Latest issue variants

Dork, May 2026 (Ruel cover)

Ruel

Dork, May 2026 (Eric Cantona cover)

Eric Cantona

Dork, May 2026 (Earl Sweatshirt & MIKE cover)

Earl Sweatshirt & MIKE

Advertise|Support|About Dork|Privacy Policy|Genres|Years|Sitemap|RSS

© 2026 The Bunker Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.

Hype- THE BEST NEW NAMES, FIRST

Upset- DORK'S HOME FOR ALL THINGS LOUD

Mixtape- DORK'S BEST NEW TRACKS

Play- DORK'S NEW MUSIC FRIDAY EDIT

Dork Radio

Live

Live 24/7

Dork Radio

Ben Howard – Black Flies (2011) | Track profile | Dork

Tracks
Ben Howard
Every Kingdom
Black Flies

TRACK

Black Flies

Release date: 29th September 2011

From Every KingdomTrack 86:22

Singer/Songwriter

Adult Alternative

Spotify Apple Music More on Ben Howard

About This Track

"Black Flies" is a track by Ben Howard, from the album Every Kingdom, released 29th September 2011. The track is 6:22 long. It's filed under Singer/Songwriter. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 3 articles about Ben Howard.

About the Artist

Ben Howard

Ben Howard

Lyrics

Black Flies

Black flies on the windowsill
That we are, that we are, that we are to know
Winter stole summer's thrill
And the river's cracked and cold
See, the sky is no man's land
A darkened plume to stay
Hope here needs a humble hand
Not a fox found in your place

No man is an island
Oh, this I know
But can't you see, oh?
Or maybe you were the ocean
When I was just a stone

Black flies on the windowsill
That we are, that we are, that we are to hold
Comfort came against my will
And every story must grow old
Still I'll be a traveller
A gypsy's reins to face
But the road is wearier
With that fool found in your place

No man is an island
Oh, this I know
But can't you see, oh?
Or maybe you were the ocean
When I was just a stone

No man is an island
Oh, this I know
But can't you see, oh?
Or maybe you were the ocean
When I was just a stone

So here we are

Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh

And I don't wanna beg your pardon
And I don't wanna ask you why
But if I was to go my own way
Would I have to pass you by?
And I don't wanna beg your pardon
And I don't wanna ask you why
But if I was to go my own way
Would I have to pass you by?

Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

Track details

From Every Kingdom

6:222011

Listen

Album

30th September 2011

Track number

8

Release year

2011

1Old Pine
5:29
2Diamonds
4:07
3The Wolves
5:09
4Everything
4:46

More from Ben Howard

Albums & EPs

I Forget Where We Were (10th Anniversary Deluxe)

I Forget Where We Were (10th Anniversary Deluxe)

Is It?

Collections From The Whiteout

Collections From The Whiteout

Noonday Dream

I Forget Where We Were

I Forget Where We Were

Old Pine

Explore

More tracks by Ben Howard

Small ThingsI Forget Where We Were (10th Anniversary Deluxe)

End Of The AffairI Forget Where We Were (10th Anniversary Deluxe)

She Treats Me WellI Forget Where We Were (10th Anniversary Deluxe)

ConradI Forget Where We Were (10th Anniversary Deluxe)

Am I In Your Light?I Forget Where We Were (10th Anniversary Deluxe)

I Forget Where We WereI Forget Where We Were (10th Anniversary Deluxe)

EvergreenI Forget Where We Were (10th Anniversary Deluxe)

Time Is DancingI Forget Where We Were (10th Anniversary Deluxe)

All Is Now HarmedI Forget Where We Were (10th Anniversary Deluxe)

In DreamsI Forget Where We Were (10th Anniversary Deluxe)

Rivers In Your MouthI Forget Where We Were (10th Anniversary Deluxe)

How Are You Feeling?

How Are You Feeling?

Richmond AvenueIs It?

Couldn’t Make It UpIs It?

MoonrakerIs It?

Interim Of SenseIs It?

Little PlantIs It?

Walking BackwardsIs It?

Total EclipseIs It?

Days Of LantanaIs It?

Life In The TimeIs It?

Ghost (acoustic)

Crowhurst's MemeCollections From The Whiteout

The Strange Last Flight of Richard RussellCollections From The Whiteout

Far OutCollections From The Whiteout

Make ArrangementsCollections From The Whiteout

BuzzardCollections From The Whiteout

RookeryCollections From The Whiteout

Sorry KidCollections From The Whiteout

Sage That She Was BurningCollections From The Whiteout

UnfurlingCollections From The Whiteout

Finders KeepersCollections From The Whiteout

Follies FixtureCollections From The Whiteout

You Have Your WayCollections From The Whiteout

What A DayCollections From The Whiteout

Metaphysical CantationsCollections From The Whiteout

Far Out / Follies Fixture

Another Friday Night / Hot Heavy Summer / Sister

Towing the LineNoonday Dream

There's Your ManNoonday Dream

Someone In the DoorwayNoonday Dream

The DefeatNoonday Dream

Nica Libres At DuskNoonday Dream

A Boat To an Island On the WallNoonday Dream

What the Moon DoesNoonday Dream

All Down the Mines (Interlude)Noonday Dream

A Boat To an Island, Pt. 2 / Agatha's SongNoonday Dream

MurmurationsNoonday Dream

End of the AffairI Forget Where We Were

I Forget Where We WereI Forget Where We Were

Small ThingsI Forget Where We Were

EvergreenI Forget Where We Were

All Is Now HarmedI Forget Where We Were

Time Is DancingI Forget Where We Were

In DreamsI Forget Where We Were

She Treats Me WellI Forget Where We Were

ConradI Forget Where We Were

Rivers In Your MouthI Forget Where We Were

Promise (Stereotronique bootleg radio remix)

Keep Your Head UpEvery Kingdom

7 Bottles (Bonus Track)Every Kingdom

PromiseEvery Kingdom

EverythingEvery Kingdom

DiamondsEvery Kingdom

Old PineEvery Kingdom

Only LoveEvery Kingdom

The WolvesEvery Kingdom

The FearEvery Kingdom

GraciousEvery Kingdom

Further AwayOld Pine

Old PineOld Pine

Three Tree TownOld Pine

Follaton WoodOld Pine

Ben Howard — Small Things (from I Forget Where We Were (10th Anniversary Deluxe)) [5:44]
Ben Howard — End Of The Affair (from I Forget Where We Were (10th Anniversary Deluxe)) [7:46]
Ben Howard — She Treats Me Well (from I Forget Where We Were (10th Anniversary Deluxe)) [5:18]
Ben Howard — Conrad (from I Forget Where We Were (10th Anniversary Deluxe)) [6:08]
Ben Howard — Am I In Your Light? (from I Forget Where We Were (10th Anniversary Deluxe)) [4:49]
Ben Howard — I Forget Where We Were (from I Forget Where We Were (10th Anniversary Deluxe)) [4:41]
Ben Howard — Evergreen (from I Forget Where We Were (10th Anniversary Deluxe)) [4:05]
Ben Howard — Time Is Dancing (from I Forget Where We Were (10th Anniversary Deluxe)) [6:49]
Ben Howard — All Is Now Harmed (from I Forget Where We Were (10th Anniversary Deluxe)) [5:02]
Ben Howard — In Dreams (from I Forget Where We Were (10th Anniversary Deluxe)) [3:33]
Ben Howard — Rivers In Your Mouth (from I Forget Where We Were (10th Anniversary Deluxe)) [5:12]
Ben Howard — How Are You Feeling?
Ben Howard — How Are You Feeling? [4:29]
Ben Howard — Rumble Strip [3:00]
Ben Howard — Richmond Avenue (from Is It?) [5:14]
Ben Howard — Spirit (from Is It?) [5:10]
Ben Howard — Couldn’t Make It Up (from Is It?) [3:55]
Ben Howard — Moonraker (from Is It?) [4:26]
Ben Howard — Interim Of Sense (from Is It?) [3:56]
Ben Howard — Little Plant (from Is It?) [3:59]
Ben Howard — Walking Backwards (from Is It?) [5:20]
Ben Howard — Total Eclipse (from Is It?) [1:30]
Ben Howard — Days Of Lantana (from Is It?) [5:15]
Ben Howard — Life In The Time (from Is It?) [3:30]
Ben Howard — Ghost (acoustic)
Ben Howard — Crowhurst's Meme (from Collections From The Whiteout) [3:44]
Ben Howard — The Strange Last Flight of Richard Russell (from Collections From The Whiteout) [4:23]
Ben Howard — Far Out (from Collections From The Whiteout) [4:19]
Ben Howard — Make Arrangements (from Collections From The Whiteout) [4:26]
Ben Howard — Buzzard (from Collections From The Whiteout) [0:55]
Ben Howard — Rookery (from Collections From The Whiteout) [2:31]
Ben Howard — Sorry Kid (from Collections From The Whiteout) [5:00]
Ben Howard — Sage That She Was Burning (from Collections From The Whiteout) [4:17]
Ben Howard — Unfurling (from Collections From The Whiteout) [3:41]
Ben Howard — Finders Keepers (from Collections From The Whiteout) [2:49]
Ben Howard — Follies Fixture (from Collections From The Whiteout) [3:59]
Ben Howard — You Have Your Way (from Collections From The Whiteout) [4:25]
Ben Howard — What A Day (from Collections From The Whiteout) [5:17]
Ben Howard — Metaphysical Cantations (from Collections From The Whiteout) [4:22]
Ben Howard — Far Out / Follies Fixture
Ben Howard — Deadlove
Ben Howard — Heave Ho
Ben Howard — Another Friday Night / Hot Heavy Summer / Sister
Ben Howard — Towing the Line (from Noonday Dream) [3:56]
Ben Howard — There's Your Man (from Noonday Dream) [4:39]
Ben Howard — Someone In the Doorway (from Noonday Dream) [4:56]
Ben Howard — The Defeat (from Noonday Dream) [5:53]
Ben Howard — Nica Libres At Dusk (from Noonday Dream) [6:34]
Ben Howard — A Boat To an Island On the Wall (from Noonday Dream) [7:10]
Ben Howard — What the Moon Does (from Noonday Dream) [5:21]
Ben Howard — All Down the Mines (Interlude) (from Noonday Dream) [0:47]
Ben Howard — A Boat To an Island, Pt. 2 / Agatha's Song (from Noonday Dream) [4:54]
Ben Howard — Murmurations (from Noonday Dream) [6:16]
Ben Howard — End of the Affair (from I Forget Where We Were) [7:46]
Ben Howard — I Forget Where We Were (from I Forget Where We Were) [4:41]
Ben Howard — Small Things (from I Forget Where We Were) [5:44]
Ben Howard — Evergreen (from I Forget Where We Were) [4:05]
Ben Howard — All Is Now Harmed (from I Forget Where We Were) [5:02]
Ben Howard — Time Is Dancing (from I Forget Where We Were) [6:49]
Ben Howard — In Dreams (from I Forget Where We Were) [3:33]
Ben Howard — She Treats Me Well (from I Forget Where We Were) [5:18]
Ben Howard — Conrad (from I Forget Where We Were) [6:08]
Ben Howard — Rivers In Your Mouth (from I Forget Where We Were) [5:12]
Ben Howard — Promise (Stereotronique bootleg radio remix)
Ben Howard — Keep Your Head Up (from Every Kingdom) [4:25]
Ben Howard — 7 Bottles (Bonus Track) (from Every Kingdom) [4:39]
Ben Howard — Promise (from Every Kingdom) [6:24]
Ben Howard — Everything (from Every Kingdom) [4:46]
Ben Howard — Diamonds (from Every Kingdom) [4:07]
Ben Howard — Old Pine (from Every Kingdom) [5:29]
Ben Howard — Only Love (from Every Kingdom) [4:09]
Ben Howard — The Wolves (from Every Kingdom) [5:09]
Ben Howard — The Fear (from Every Kingdom) [4:20]
Ben Howard — Gracious (from Every Kingdom) [4:57]
Ben Howard — Further Away (from Old Pine) [4:26]
Ben Howard — Old Pine (from Old Pine) [4:18]
Ben Howard — Three Tree Town (from Old Pine) [3:36]
Ben Howard — Follaton Wood (from Old Pine) [4:49]
Ben Howard — Soldiers

7 Bottles (Bonus Track)Every Kingdom
4:39
A Boat To an Island On the WallNoonday Dream
7:10
A Boat To an Island, Pt. 2 / Agatha's SongNoonday Dream
4:54
All Down the Mines (Interlude)Noonday Dream
0:47
All Is Now HarmedI Forget Where We Were (10th Anniversary Deluxe)
5:02
All Is Now HarmedI Forget Where We Were
5:02
Am I In Your Light?I Forget Where We Were (10th Anniversary Deluxe)
4:49
Another Friday Night / Hot Heavy Summer / Sister
BuzzardCollections From The Whiteout
0:55
ConradI Forget Where We Were (10th Anniversary Deluxe)
6:08

Showing 10 of 79

If you like Ben Howard

Nick Mulvey

Nick Mulvey

Benjamin Francis Leftwich

Benjamin Francis Leftwich

James Vincent McMorrow

James Vincent McMorrow

Bear's Den

Charlie Cunningham

Bon Iver

Bon Iver

José González

José González

Gregory Alan Isakov

A Blaze Of Feather

Fink

Fink

READ MORE ABOUT BEN HOWARD

READ MORE ABOUT BEN HOWARD

READ MORE ABOUT BEN HOWARD

READ MORE ABOUT BEN HOWARD

READ MORE ABOUT BEN HOWARD

READ MORE ABOUT BEN HOWARD

READ MORE ABOUT BEN HOWARD

READ MORE ABOUT BEN HOWARD

Ben Howard is going to celebrate ten years of his second album 'I Forget Where We Were' with a new tour

Ben Howard is going to celebrate ten years of his second album 'I Forget Where We Were' with a new tour

The dates will take place this October and November.

May 24, 2024 • 8:52 AM

Ben Howard has announced a huge 2023 UK and European tour

Ben Howard has announced a huge 2023 UK and European tour

It'll be his first European tour in five years.

Mar 20, 2023 • 7:45 PM

Ben Howard has announced a 2023 headline show at Alexandra Palace Park

Ben Howard has announced a 2023 headline show at Alexandra Palace Park

It will be his first London show since September 2021.

Dec 13, 2022 • 3:56 PM

7Keep Your Head Up

8Black Flies

6:22

117 Bottles (Bonus Track)