Larry Beckett is a renegade poet, best known as the famed lyricist for the legendary Tim Buckley. Celebrated for his bold approach to language, Beckett has spent decades pushing the boundaries of poetry, including his ambitious American Cycle (published in 2021), and redefining songwriting as a collaborator with Buckley, co-writing the timeless “Song to the Siren,” which has been covered by countless artists worldwide. His work has earned praise from luminaries such as U.S. Poet Laureates William Meredith, W. S. Merwin, and Charles Wright. Journalist Jonah Raskin describes his poetry as “lyrical as well as cinematic and epical,” while Peter Buck, guitarist of R.E.M., calls it “simple, heartbreaking and altogether moving.”

True to his renegade spirit, Beckett continues to challenge musical norms with his fifth album, Though We Have Only Love: The Songs of Jacques Brel (out January 9, 2026, via The Orchard/Sony). Created with longtime collaborator, UK singer/guitarist Stuart Anthony, the album presents 14 of Brel’s iconic chansons, translated by Beckett from French to English with a poetic accuracy he felt was missing from past versions—blending reverence for the originals with a fresh vision all his own.