About The Song
“What I’d Say” is a song written by Robert Byrne and Will Robinson, and recorded by American country music artist Earl Thomas Conley. It was released in October 1988 as the third single from his album The Heart of It All. The song was Conley’s seventeenth number one country single. The single went to number one on the U.S. and Canadian country charts and spent a total of fourteen weeks on the U.S. country chart.
The song talks of a man holding imaginary conversations with the woman who’d left him, rehearsing what he might say if he ever ran into her. He doesn’t know whether he would express his feelings, compliment her, or tell her to “go to hell.” The song concludes by the man stating that his ex-lover would have to wait until the day they meet again to find out what he would say to her.
The song was covered by Gary Allan on his 2001 album Alright Guy. It was also covered by Irish singer/songwriter Paul Harrington whose version was the title track of his debut album in 1988 and by Lorrie Morgan on her 2016 album “Letting Go… Slow”.
“What I’d Say” debuted on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of November 12, 1988.
Video
Lyrics
Talking to the mirror, whispering your name
Just like you were here, you’d think I was insane
I hold these conversations in the silence of my room
Rehearsing all the things I’d say, should I run into you?
“How’s it going?” Might be what I’d say
“You broke my heart, you know” or “It looks like rain today”
Or maybe, “God, I missed you since you went away”
“You’re looking well” or “Go to Hell” might be what I’d say
There’s times I feel so angry, I’d put my fist right through the wall
Then there’s times, I’ve come so close to giving you a call
I love you and I hate you all at the same time
I pray that you’ll come back to me before I lose my mind
“How’s it going?” Might be what I’d say
“You broke my heart, you know” or “It looks like rain today”
Or maybe, “God, I missed you since you went away”
“You’re looking well” or “Go to Hell” might be what I’d say
Guess you’ll have to wait until that day
To find out what I’d say
“God, I missed you since you went away”
“You’re looking well” or “Go to Hell” might be what I’d say