About The Song
“Whatever You Say” is a song written by Ed Hill and Tony Martin and recorded by American country music artist Martina McBride. It was released in February 1999 as the fifth and final single from McBride’s album Evolution. The song peaked at number 2 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs and at number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also peaked at number 6 on the Canadian RPM chart.
“Whatever You Say” is a slow contemporary-styled ballad, which was the theme of McBride’s album that this song was released on.
The ballad is a first-person perspective of someone who is experiencing emotional invalidation. It may even evoke a sense of gaslighting or minimization for some listeners with lyrics of “You think I’m always making/ Something out of nothing/ You’re saying, ‘Everything’s ok’.” and “Now, we can change the subject/ Pretend I never brought it up/ Same old story, anyway.” The chorus culminates in a powerful plea, where the singer expresses that the other party is hearing them speak, but not listening, and that the future of their relationship will depend on the other person’s response that plea.
Sara Evans and Neil Thrasher sing backing vocals.
In the official music video, examples of different types of relationships are intermittently shown and highlight that the sense of emotional invalidation can occur in a variety of interpersonal relationships
“Whatever You Say” was issued as the fifth and final single from Martina McBride’s fourth album, Evolution, which was a multi-platinum success. The song was released as a single to country radio in early 1999, peaking at number 2 on the Hot Country Songs chart and number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of two singles spawned from the album that reached number 2 (“Happy Girl” was the first). The song also reached a peak of number 6 on the Canadian RPM chart that same year, becoming her sixth Top 10 on that chart.
Video
Lyrics
You think I’m always makin’
Somethin’ out of nothin’
You’ sayin’, “Everything’s ok”
You’ve always got an answer
Before I ask the question
“Whatever you say”
Now, we can change the subject
Pretend I never brought it up
Same old story, anyway
“Later, we can work it out”
Right now you’re, “Talked out”
Yeah, “Whatever you say”
I know you can hear meeeee!
But, I’m not sure you’re listeniiiiiin’!
I hear what you’re sayiiiiiiin’!
But still there’s somethin’ missiiiiiin’!
Whether I go!
Whether I stay!
Right now depends oooon
“Whatever you say”!
You say, “Yes” you need me
And, “No” you wouldn’t leave me
And this should be enough to make me stay
And even though I want to
I don’t hear, “I love you”
In, “Whatever you say”
I know you can hear meeee!
But I’m not sure you’re listeniiiiin’!
I hear what you’re sayiiiiiiin’!
But still there’s something missiiiiiiin’!
Whether I go!
Whether I stay!
Right now depends ooooon!
“Whatever you say”!
Oh! Whether I go!
Whether I stay!
Right now depends ooooon!
“Whatever you say”!
Whatever you saaay!
Whatever you saaaaaay!