From the Articles of Antiquity Interview:
AoA:
What inspired the song “Text Message From My Father”?
Dru Cutler:
For as long as I can remember, my father has suffered from bi-polar disorder and depression. He’s like a prisoner to it. He’s trapped by it.
I always wanted to write a song about his struggle, but I didn’t know how to do it. I was afraid I would come across a “poor me” type of thing, and listening to other folks complain is … boring.
Then, last year, he sent my sisters and I a text that said he was going to kill himself on a specific day, at a specific time. For months, he would count down the days he had left by just sending me texts that said “34” or “26” or “9”.
It was excruciating.
On the last day, the day of the eclipse, he went radio silent. He disappeared.
We had to send police officers over to his house to bang on the wooden door.
That’s when the song came. I didn’t write any of the words. I just took the language from his text messages, and set them. It’s not me singing, it’s him.
In the end, he lived. But I don’t want anyone to have to go through anything like that.
Read the full interview:
thearticlesofantiquity.com/artists-in-music/2018/4/4/dru-cutler-an-interview