What I'd Say

Not to be confused with What'd I Say.

"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. "What I'd Say" was Earl Thomas Conley's seventeenth number one country single. The single went to number one on the U.S. and Canadian country chart's and spent a total of fourteen weeks on the U.S. country chart.

Content

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.

Cover versions

The song was also covered by Gary Allan on his 2001 album Alright Guy and by Irish singer/songwriter Paul Harrington whose version was the title track of his debut album in 1988.

Chart performance

"What I'd Say" debuted on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of November 12, 1988.

Chart (1988–1989)	Peak position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1989)	Position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)	27
US Country Songs (Billboard)	52

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics

Preceded by "Deeper Than the Holler" by Randy Travis

Billboard Hot Country Singles number-one single February 4, 1989

Succeeded by "Song of the South" by Alabama