Say So (Dan + Shay song)

In an interview with Variety, Dan + Shay stated that the song was inspired by the suicide of their mentor Ben Vaughn, the head of Warner Chappell Music Publishing. They were initially concerned that the song would be "too heavy" for fans, but decided it was important to raise awareness on the issue and offer hope to people. After writing the song, Dan Smyers played the demo for his wife and realized that he had composed it on what would have been Vaughn's 50th birthday. In regard to the production, Smyers was meticulous about audio equalization and used real instruments instead of programmed sounds to create a sound that would "feel real" and "age well".^[1]

In the first verse, Dan + Shay describe their devastation upon learning about Ben Vaughn's suicide. The chorus highlights the importance of reaching out when needed, as well as helping and supporting those who are experiencing hardships.^[1][2][3] The second verse explores the theme of unexpressed internal conflicts and encourages people to open up about them as a means of forming a connection.^[2]