In a moment of raw, unexpected emotion, comedian Adam Sandler transformed what began as a humorous anecdote into arguably the most profound and sorrowful tribute in modern comedy. The event took place during his 2018 Netflix comedy special, Adam Sandler: 100% Fresh, where he premiered the original “Farley” song dedicated to his late friend and Saturday Night Live (SNL) co-star, Chris Farley.
A Friendship Forged in Comedy
Adam Sandler and Chris Farley were part of a legendary group of comedians often dubbed the “Bad Boys of SNL” in the early 1990s. They quickly rose to prominence, creating iconic, high-energy sketches. Farley and Sandler were reportedly hired onto Saturday Night Live around the same time in 1990 and were ultimately fired from the show together in 1995. Farley tragically passed away on December 18, 1997, at the age of 33, due to a drug overdose—eerily echoing the fate of his idol, SNL original John Belushi, who also died at 33 from a similar overdose in 1982.
The Genesis of “Farley”
The “Farley” song is a poignant, acoustic ballad that starts lightheartedly, recounting Farley’s endearing, oversized personality—from his first audition to his famous sketches like the motivational speaker Matt Foley. However, as the song progresses, the tone shifts dramatically, addressing Farley’s well-documented struggles with addiction. Sandler’s lyrics reveal the deep concern shared by his friends: “We’d tell him, ‘Slow down, you’ll end up like [John] Belushi and [John] Candy.’” The emotional peak arrives as Sandler recounts the final months of Farley’s life and the heartbreaking aftermath, singing: “Nothing was harder than sayin’ goodbye, except watching Chris’s father have his turn to cry.” During the performance in 100% Fresh, Sandler’s voice noticeably cracks and wavers with genuine grief, transforming the performance from comedy into a profoundly moving eulogy that brought the audience to tears.
Expanding the Legacy: Tributes and Remembrance
The song’s impact was so significant that Sandler performed it live again on Saturday Night Live on May 4, 2019, when he returned to host the show. During that performance, a montage of Chris Farley’s most memorable moments played behind Sandler, cementing the tribute as one of the most emotional moments in the show’s history. Farley had originally been cast to voice the title character in the animated film Shrek (2001) and had recorded nearly all of his dialogue before his death. Adam Sandler’s “Farley” song stands as a powerful testament not just to the comedic genius of Chris Farley but to the enduring, painful nature of friendship lost too soon. It became a viral sensation after the special aired, resonating with millions who mourned the loss of a comedy legend.