Nolan Taylor - 68 [Behind The Song] 

You may have lost that relationship with your Mother, but you gained a world of folks who love and support your music Nolan, keep singing to us. ❤

My mother was an alcoholic and she died from it. This song expresses some of the rage I felt when "you love me when you need a high" and "I'm done spending my money on you". The phone calls that started off sweet and inevitably turned to asking for money, and when I refused, she'd turn viscerally mean and hurtful or she'd pour on the guilt trip so gut-churningly thick as to make me feel like I didn't deserve to live... I know she loved me fiercely and being taken from her boys did a number on her, but the alcohol man... took her away from us in such a messy and cruel way. She didn't deserve that suffering, no way no how. Thank you for this song because it made me feel less alone, less wrong in feeling that anger from time to time.

Wish we were closer in school, I had no idea. I’m sorry man. Keep climbing Nolan!

I feel ya Bubba. The way you explain your relationship with your momma hits home. Fortunately my ma got clean after battling sobriety for a majority of her life. Unfortunately, after 14 years of sobriety she left this earth due to Cancer. Man it tore me up for years because our relationship had been severally damaged due to years of abuse & trauma she caused but refused to see or admit to. She got the diagnosis of "Stage 4 lung cancer that spread to her bones, spine & brain" & it all changed. She was the mom I needed in those last few months of her life & I'm grateful. However I was pissed because I couldn't understand how could she be the mom I needed for 34+ years NOW but wasn't capable before. It didn't make sense to me til 3 months after her death when I read her journals dating back to when she was 12 years old. I'm not making excuses for her or your mom, but mental illness is a very real thing. Undiagnosed & untreated mental illness is rampant among the "boomer" & "gen x" generation. Unfortunately for them, it was "taboo" & "embarrassing" when it came to talking about therapy & mental health, which is why they turned to drug/alcohol/gambling addictions. It's heartbreaking really.

I just heard this song and I’m at a loss for words. I had to cut my mom out of my life & I deeply felt this song. Thank you for putting words to the journey from childhood to cutting ties; I’ve never been able to. Thank you!

There have been just a few artists that have completely stopped me in my tracks. The first song I heard you sing (and it wasn't 68) had me asking all kinds of questions. I'm thrilled your music found me, and for as long as you're writing, I'm listening.

Love your best life bud. I hope you know how proud of yourself you should be.

Anyone listening to this song will know in their soul that it's a true story, such is the depth of feeling you bring to it. Deeply moving ❤️‍🩹

This is so real, that’s why it hits so hard. Such a honest share. Incredible

my dad loves this song, it hits so deep.

The pain you hear in that song, I know well. As hard as it is sometimes the best thing you can do is remove people from your life.

This song means so much to me. And I just found it two days ago. Nothing has ever helped me to feel the things I’ve needed to feel more. I can’t thank you enough

You need more heart filled emotional songs like this with the voice you use in that song, the darkness we feel it and relate Heard your new album you can do better Hope all is good stay real Great hearing you

One of the greatest songs I have ever heard…..completely perfect in every way.

Thank you for sharing your truth.

You are so awesome Nolan, Im glad you chose to rise an be positive an do good things. U has a whole bunch of folk who support u an care. Keep going. U got it. Nothin but blessings i hope 4 u.

Man soo many people can resonate with that song I my self included. I wish nothing but extreme success for you Nolan taylor!

❤ East Tennessee USA sending you so much love!! Its a beautiful BEAUTIFUL song 🎵

I had PTDD by the fourth grade, so your song hits home for me. Love your music.

Thank you Nolan, just thank you.

such a great song. whether or not one can relate to it, the emotions are raw and powerful. thanks for sharing this with us

Just want to say i love you Nolan! Keep fighting brother

Had to cut my mom out of my life out of a lifetime of loyalty . I feel ya bro . Thanks for sharing your story in a song . Makes some of us feel like we can really relate

I love this approach you're taking to your storytelling. It's refreshing to hear the artist tell the story of the song. And what it means to them.

Awesome!

i love this dude so much. so talented, and so real.

Love your work nolan. While i can relate to it on some level for me its more towards my father, as my mother had ended up passing the day before i shipped out to basic. 68 moved me in a way i didnt think possible anymorei cant stop listening to it tbh. Keep up the good work my friend

Great song, great artist. Instant fan here. Cant wait for more!

Thanks for sharing this, Nolan.

Love this song soooooo much! So many of us with a similar experience. You're beautiful vulnerability is truly remarkable ❤

So proud of you bro! Love you!❤

It's so amazing how much more the song communicates than the story itself. He could talk for hours about his experience and we would understand and feel his pain, but it would be nothing like the impact of the song itself. When I first heard this song I felt my soul rise from the depth of my being to merge with this perfect stranger on the internet and then removed from all imagery and conceptualization it's almost as if you live the years he's singing about all in the span of 4 minutes. Such is the power of music I guess.

Thank you for your music Nolan. Honestly havent felt this way about music in awhile. Ill show people and still end up crying every time haha hope to see ya come to Washington so i can see ya live! keep it up brotha

Keep it up man! We lived the same childhood and breaking free is the best feeling you can have from such a miserable childhood. We love ya dude!

♥

Love you and your music. No kid should have to endure that kind of neglect, praying you find comfort in knowing that God was with you and loves you.

I feel ya. Thank you it's an amazing song

Hey, thank you for just being raw and honest in this song, it comes through. There is something that is healing about finally being able to put certain things in your life on paper and sing them so just really appreciate that you have done this and shared it.

You're killing it, man. Keep on keepin' on. Peace.

Hearing your song as a parent broke my heart. Hope you found peace brother.

This song is so powerful. Time stops and it literally brings tears to my eyes every time i watch you perform it. Thank you for sharing your music with the world.

Yeah man, I my mom and I had the same relationship when she passed out and I had to drive down I-64 from Mt Sterling to Center KY I think o was 13, maybe 14.

Come to Georgia!

Feel this as it hits close for me as well - thanks for putting to paper what I’ve wanted to say so long

Just wanted to say that I pray for the healing that's needed for all parties involved. Your song 68 is incredibly powerful and you have an amazing gift for music. All the best!

I love this song man! Your tunes are a huge inspiration for me to keep making music!

Thank you for being vulnerable enough to bear your soul and record 68.. This song is the most powerful song I have ever heard. I can't stop listening to it since I found it.

I'm from Salinas Ca I live right off of 68

I am so very sorry.. Sadly you are among so many young adults who are also dealing with this.. What is sickening the PANDEMIC hasn't stopped it's only gotten worse & too younger individuals.. It's now a generational type illnesse/disease..

❤

Your voice is powerful in that song. Thank you for making such an impact on my life

I really wished 68 wasn’t autobiographical, but it cut so deep it just had to be.

Wow, this is so amazing! I'm an artist from Ohio as well, hope to reach your level someday. Keep it up

Where at on SR68 ? I lived close to 68 in Mt. Oarb

Nolan……. I know you have the hat, but is that a Pinegrove Tattoo?? ❤

Why the hell would you go to Memphis instead of Nashville? We want to see you here. Come to MUSIC CITY USA, bro.🎸

Holy crap.. That’s one of the saddest things I’ve ever heard in my life

Found you on @radiowv and now a huge fan

I feel ya Bubba. The way you explain your relationship with your momma hits home. Fortunately my ma got clean after battling sobriety for a majority of her life. Unfortunately, after 14 years of sobriety she left this earth due to Cancer. Man it tore me up for years because our relationship had been severally damaged due to years of abuse & trauma she caused but refused to see or admit to. She got the diagnosis of "Stage 4 lung cancer that spread to her bones, spine & brain" & it all changed. She was the mom I needed in those last few months of her life & I'm grateful. However I was pissed because I couldn't understand how could she be the mom I needed for 34+ years NOW but wasn't capable before. It didn't make sense to me til 3 months after her death when I read her journals dating back to when she was 12 years old. I'm not making excuses for her or your mom, but mental illness is a very real thing. Undiagnosed & untreated mental illness is rampant among the "boomer" & "gen x" generation. Unfortunately for them, it was "taboo" & "embarrassing" when it came to talking about therapy & mental health, which is why they turned to drug/alcohol/gambling addictions. It's heartbreaking really.