Wiser Time was formed in 2001 by singer/songwriter/guitarist, Carmen Sclafani, in the small town of Millington, New Jersey, USA, just outside of New York City. He had been working in art and design during the days while performing in coffee-houses and clubs of New Jersey and New York during the evenings, becoming a fixture in the local music scene.
Sclafani wrote and recorded material that would eventually become Wiser Time’s first full-length album, “There And Back Again,“ in the fall of 2006 with producer Anthony Krizan (Amphibian, Lenny Kravitz, Spin Doctors). The album was received well and radio stations began playing it while Sclafani continued to perform throughout the New Jersey/New York area, as well as stops across the United States to the California coast.
Wiser Time’s second full-length album, “All For One,“ was recorded and released on February 1, 2008 and was a raw and emotional album that was heavily influenced by the weight of the times. Jerry Ewing of Classic Rock Magazine wrote, “It’s fluidly enjoyable stuff…rocking hard,” * giving the album 7/10 stars.
Sclafani also spent time exploring some of his earlier folk work, and was inspired to write and record a selection of stripped-down songs including the acoustic ballad, “Looking For Bob Dylan“ and the emotional “What You Give – Unplugged.“
In 2009, Sclafani began work on Wiser Time’s third full-length album with engineer and producer, Tom Camuso (Steve Earle, Medeski, Martin and Wood) in Brooklyn, NY. The sessions would be titled “Beggars And Thieves,“ and became a three-day recording celebration that chronicled Sclafani’s life and some of the events that took place on the road. “Beggars And Thieves” was released on February 12, 2010.
The album received national radio play and reached #46 on the Americana Music Charts. Jim Hynes of Elmore Magazine wrote, “the easy, unpretentious feel of the music exudes a celebratory spirit,” ** and Jamie Hailstone of Blues Matters hailed the album as “a masterclass in good old-fashioned back porch rock, guaranteed to bring a smile to any fan of classic rock and roll.” ***
In 2012, Sclafani began work on a written word and audio EP titled, “XII“ with guitarist and producer Chuck Hammer (Lou Reed, David Bowie) contributing to the instrumental introduction. The piece is fittingly titled after Sclafani’s birthday and released on 12.12.12.
After a short hiatus, Sclafani released Wiser Time’s next album, “Within,” in the Fall of 2017, followed by the folk single, “Sing You A Song” in 2018. Wiser Time then released the EP , “Worlds Collide,” in 2020 followed by the single “After I’m Gone,” in 2021 and singles from the coming 2024 EP, "All Fired Up"
* Classic Rock Magazine – September 2008, page 78
** Elmore Magazine – June 16th, 2011, elmoremagazine.com
*** Blues Matters – Issue 55, page 91
Back For More
Wiser Time Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
trying to find her way in the world
You got a pretty nice smile but a bad reputation
You don't have to hide it, but you really should
There were lines on the table and bodies on the floor
And she was back for more
She was certified wild when she was born
but I wouldn't walk away if I could
You got a dirty little secret but a good vibration
You shouldn't have to fight it if it makes you feel good
They would hang from the ceiling and climb on the wall
And she was back for more
She was certified wild when she was born
The lyrics to Wiser Time's song "Back For More" paint a picture of a young woman who is constantly pulled back into a world of drugs, partying, and reckless behavior. The opening lines describe her as a "sweet little sister" who is trying to find her way in the world, but also has a bad reputation. Despite this, she has a pretty smile that seems to draw people towards her. The next few lines hint at the dark world she is involved in - there are "lines on the table and bodies on the floor" - but she keeps going back for more. The repeated line "She was certified wild when she was born" suggests that her reckless behavior is somehow ingrained in her DNA, and she can't escape it.
The second verse continues to explore the woman's situation, with the singer suggesting that she has been "fooled by the lie by a silver-tongued woman". This could potentially be a reference to someone who introduced her to the world of drugs and partying in the first place. The singer also acknowledges that the woman has a "dirty little secret" that makes her feel good - perhaps alluding to the addictive nature of drugs. Despite the potential dangers, the woman keeps going back for more, as evidenced by the line "They would hang from the ceiling and climb on the wall/And she was back for more". Ultimately, the song seems to be a cautionary tale about the dangers of getting caught up in a lifestyle that can be hard to escape.
Line by Line Meaning
Sweet little sister in a hard situation,
A woman is in a tough spot, trying to make her way in life.
trying to find her way in the world
She is struggling to navigate life and find her path.
You got a pretty nice smile but a bad reputation
Despite having an attractive appearance, people view her negatively.
You don't have to hide it, but you really should
Although she shouldn't conceal anything, it's best to be cautious.
There were lines on the table and bodies on the floor
Drugs and violence were present in the situation she finds herself in.
And she was back for more
Despite the danger, she kept returning to the same place.
She was certified wild when she was born
She's always had a wild streak, even from birth.
Fooled by the lie by a silver-tongued woman,
She was tricked by a convincing and cunning woman.
but I wouldn't walk away if I could
Despite knowing better, the woman is drawn to the situation.
You got a dirty little secret but a good vibration
Even with a questionable past, the woman exudes positivity.
You shouldn't have to fight it if it makes you feel good
If something brings happiness, it's not worth struggling against.
They would hang from the ceiling and climb on the wall
The scene she's in is chaotic and dangerous.
And she was back for more
Despite the danger, she kept returning to the same place.
She was certified wild when she was born
She's always had a wild streak, even from birth.
Lyrics © Wiser Time Music, Songtrust Ave
Written by: CARMEN SCLAFANI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind