May 16 2026

Wiser Time — There’s A Change A‑Comin’

By Grant Britt

Wiser Time has always been a traveler — not just in miles, but in musical identity. Since his 2006 debut There And Back Again, Carmen Sclafani has roamed freely between rock and folk, wearing the Wiser Time persona like a well‑worn coat that fits no matter the weather. He’s a troubadour at heart, fluent in both electric grit and acoustic truth‑telling.

After leaning into a Tom Petty‑styled rocker vibe on 2025’s All Fired Up, Time pivots again. There’s A Change A‑Comin’ plants him firmly in what he calls modern electric folk. The core was captured alone in a New Jersey cabin with just an acoustic guitar; the studio sessions later expanded the palette with accordion, B3, piano, harmonica, fiddle, bass, drums — and Time’s own slide guitar threading through the mix.

“Cold Hard World” opens like a reality check delivered by Steve Earle fronting Crosby, Stills & Nash. “You’re free to deceive the master,” Time warns, “but believe he’s gonna come.” It’s a wake‑up call wrapped in harmony.

On “I Will Walk You Home,” Time strips everything back to a Prine‑like reassurance — a gentle promise that even in a world that’s big, hard, and cruel, no one has to wander alone.

“Billionaire Blues” takes aim at the ruling‑class indifference of the moment, skewering the mindset of the insulated elite: “Times be getttin’ harder / but we don’t even care — Billionaire.”

With “Barrabus,” Time revisits the ancient choice Pilate offered the crowd — and wonders who today would free the robber over the innocent. His implication is clear: the same people who cheer on the modern billionaire‑in‑charge.

“Divided” turns inward, addressing betrayal with weary honesty: “I wanna believe in you, but that’s just wasting time, my friend.” It’s a lament for trust broken and bridges burned.

Labeling Wiser Time a protest singer doesn’t quite fit. He’s more of a visionary — someone offering caution, clarity, and the occasional admonition to stop acting the fool. There’s A Change A‑Comin’ isn’t a manifesto; it’s a lantern held up in the dark, urging listeners to walk a little straighter and see a little clearer.

Grant Britt (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) has been writing about music since the earth cooled a while back. A staff writer for No Depression, his work also appears in BluesMusic Mag and the Greensboro News and Record. 

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