Luke Beling’s 'Let Tomorrow Come': Bridging Dylanesque Genius with Modern Folk Sensibilities

11 months ago

These days if you plan on having a career as a singer/songwriter you’d better have something special going for you. In a genre shadowed by giants like Bob Dylan, Carole King, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon (the list continues…) it’s difficult to find an original voice. Search “folk” on any streaming service and there’s a wide ocean of mediocrity available to drown in.

With a voice that resonates with wisdom South African born (now living in Hawaii) Luke Beling stands out in the crowded room of musicians holding acoustic guitars. His sharp ability as a lyricist nods to his competence as a writer and storyteller. I read several of his short stories linked on his homepage and like his songs they deal with the struggles inherent in life (I especially liked “Billy and the Priest”). The subject matter of this song is straightforward but Beling’s carefully worded prose elevates it with lines like,

“She let the door hit a man on the floor 
and the jukebox kept on playing”

It’s simple and eloquently describes a dark situation with vivid imagery. His lyrics have a Kris Kristofferson quality to them. They engage on a core emotional level. This song feels like a sequel to “Help Me Make it Through the Night” when the survivor has finally seen the light of morning.

The production has a modern sensibility and “Let Tomorrow Come” is mixed with a gentleness that supports Beling as he tells his story. The vocals sit front and center over a textured wash of harmonies and mournful slide guitar. A finger picked acoustic rings like bells in the distance. The strength of his voice and his careful delivery are allowed to command the direction of the song through its narrative arc. His Dylanesque phrasing shows that he’s studied the masters and he makes every word count.

Beling’s Buddhist take on the nature of life’s inevitable struggle is evident in all his writing and “Let Tomorrow Come” feels like a moment of surrender. It’s a hopeful song despite its tragic nature. A soft reminder to stop fighting and accept the light promised by a new day. I look forward to hearing his forthcoming EP due for release on March 1^st and reading his first novel coming some time in 2024.