Carmen Sclafani, professionally known as Wiser Time, is a vocalist, songwri… Read Full Bio ↴Carmen Sclafani, professionally known as Wiser Time, is a vocalist, songwriter, guitarist and producer from New Jersey, USA. His work has received recognition for it’s soulful vocals and musical style which consists of concept albums that blend rock, Americana, blues and folk influences. Wiser Time’s debut album was There And Back Again (2006), followed by All For One (2008), Beggars And Thieves (2010), XII (2012) and Within (2017). Following the release of the EP, “Worlds Collide,” in 2020, Wiser Time released the 2021 single, “After I’m Gone,” and has just released the single, “Hanging Around,” from the coming “All Fired Up,” EP later in 2023.

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

Lay It Down
Wiser Time Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

So when your feet are in the air
And your view is from the ground
When you take a look around you
And there's no one to be found

I know you feel like it's over
And no one will hear a sound
Take the burden from your shoulder

And lay it down

Can you feel it now?
Then let it flow
Down and easy now
Then let it go

We all do what we have to do
But who are you to talk down?
And if we really want to
We can turn this thing around

So let the spirit overtake take you
And turn the music up loud

Lay, lay, lay it
Lay it down

Overall Meaning

These lyrics from Wiser Time's song "Lay It Down" highlight the importance of letting go of burdens and finding a sense of peace. The imagery of being upside down, with your feet in the air and your view from the ground, emphasizes a feeling of disorientation and vulnerability. This feeling is amplified by the lack of anyone else around, as if the singer is completely alone in their struggle. The chorus offers a solution to this overwhelming feeling, encouraging the listener to let their emotions flow down and easy and to ultimately let go of their burden.

The song emphasizes the power of music as a tool to overcome hardship. The line "let the spirit overtake you and turn the music up loud" implies that listening to music can be a transformative and healing experience. The final repetition of "Lay, lay, lay it, lay it down" is almost hypnotic, as if encouraging the listener to fully embrace the message of the song and lay down their burdens.

Overall, "Lay It Down" is a powerful anthem of hope and healing. It encourages listeners to find peace and let go of their struggles, reminding them that they are not alone, and that they have the power to turn things around.

Line by Line Meaning

So when your feet are in the air
When you're upside down and everything is turned around

And your view is from the ground
And you're looking up at everything from an unfamiliar perspective

When you take a look around you
When you survey your surroundings

And there's no one to be found
And you're feeling alone and unsupported

I know you feel like it's over
I understand that you feel like you're at your breaking point

And no one will hear a sound
And you don't think anyone will listen or care

Take the burden from your shoulder
Release the weight that's been holding you down

And lay it down
Set it aside and let it go

Can you feel it now?
Are you starting to experience a shift in your emotions?

Then let it flow
Allow yourself to feel and express your emotions freely

Down and easy now
Slowly and gently