The Song Remembers When: Tyler Hubbard – “Back Then Right Now”

We take you behind the scenes and explore the making of one of our favorite tunes with The Song Remembers When…

Song: “Back Then Right Now”
Songwriters: Tyler Hubbard, David Garcia, Jessie Jo Dillon, and Geoff Warburton
Album: Strong

Tyler Hubbard, formerly half of Florida Georgia Line, has been carving out his place as a solo artist since 2022 when he released “5 Foot 9.” Earlier this year, his second solo album called Strong arrived, and the lead single was another big hit. It’s been described by Tyler as a good follow-up to his second solo hit, “Dancin’ in the Country.” In fact, Tyler called it a “second cousin” to the song.

“Back Then Right Now” is all about nostalgia. Songwriter Jessie Jo Dillon had the title. She’d just paid a visit to her uncle in East Tennessee who was dealing with a new truck. In frustration, he said out loud, “I could use some back then, right now.” The group of writers were all in. Tyler took the idea of “back then” to “back when” – “when a paved road was a gravel road and Walmart was a fishing hole.”

One of the songwriters David Garcia said that he hoped the song taught us all a little something about slowing down because if we do, we just might enjoy the gift of life a little more.

“Back Then Right Now” topped the chart in May of this year, marking a second number one in Tyler’s solo career.