Dan + Shay are opening up about their new single, “Say So,” out now. Written by duo members Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney, along with Jimmy Robbins and David Hodges, the song shines a spotlight on the importance of mental health.
“Say So” is based on a true story, inspired by their close friend, Warner Chappell head Ben Vaughn, who tragically lost his battle with mental illness in 2025.
“He took his own life, sadly, unexpectedly,” Smyers tells Variety. “This happened a week or two after we had been hanging out at a little party at my house, celebrating ‘Bigger Houses’ going No. 1, and ‘10,000 Hours’ hitting a billion streams on Spotify. It was one of those things where no one saw it coming. At least we didn’t.”
It was Vaughn who not only gave Dan + Shay their first publishing deal, but was very instrumental in getting them a record deal on Warner Nashville, their current label home.
Why Dan + Shay Recorded “Say So”
Dan + Shay are best known for songs like “Tequila,” “Speechless,” and others. Both Smyers and Mooney knew that “Say So” was a departure for them, but one they felt was important.
“I’ve personally dealt with mental health stuff over the last few years, more so than ever,” Smyers admits. “We battle a lot of stuff inside and outside of ourselves. And as we were talking about Ben, we were just like, ‘Man, I wish we would’ve known. I wish we could have reminded him that there’s always somebody on the other line.’ At the time we wrote it, we were like, ‘I don’t know, man. It’s different than what we usually do. It’s not a love song.’ But it kind of is, I guess.”
As tragic as Vaughn’s death is, it has made both Smyers and Mooney be more aware of mental health, both their own and those around them.
“It has made me more proactive about checking in on my friends and people I care about,” Mooney maintains. “Even if I’m thinking, ‘Dude, that guy’s killing it. I bet they’re doing great.’ It’s just like Robin Williams. Sometimes it’s the guy that’s there for everybody else, who’s making everybody else laugh and make everybody else happy, that’s the saddest or in the darkest place inside. I’ve felt it from a couple of other buddies who are like the top dogs in the industry. Sometimes those are the ones carrying the most weight.
“I’ve searched for answers on Ben and these other guys, and I still think about it,” he adds. “It’s like, is there anything that I saw? Everybody from the outside seemed all smiles. It shouldn’t stop you from asking somebody, ‘Hey, how you doing?’ Just checking in.”
View this post on Instagram
Why Dan + Shay Continue to Talk About Mental Health
Smyers and Mooney are both committed to continue talking about the importance of taking care of one’s mental health, if only to honor Vaughn.
“I’m trying to take something positive away from it and be more proactive about that,” says Smyers. “I think this song is a step in that direction, and a step for us too, to break that barrier. Maybe it’s selfish, but even to break the personal barrier with our fans in talking about the anxiety that I’ve dealt with.”
Smyers regularly gets help at a place called Porter’s Call in Nashville. The two men hope that, by continuing to be vocal about their own mental health, it will inspire others to do the same.
“No matter if you’re the person standing on stage in front of thousands of people, or if you’re working a desk job or you’re in school, it’s a real thing, mental health, and no one is immune to (issues with it), whether you deal with it or somebody in your family or close personal circle does.”
The Lyrics in Dan + Shay’s “Say So”
I got a call from a friend who don’t call very often
Broke it to me, and I couldn’t believe that we lost him
Really felt like it came out of nowhere
But it never really comes out of nowhere
It’s crazy the pain that we carry when nobody’s watching
If your light burns out and you’re in the dark
If you can’t pick up the pieces
If the world you trusted falls apart
If your heart’s run out of reasons
I’ll be there every time you call
Pick you up every time you fall
If you’re going through hell, you’re not alone
If you need somebody, say so
Sometimes the words you don’t know how to say are the loudest
No one can shoulder the weight if they don’t know about it
Don’t be scared, you can pull back the curtain
Love ain’t afraid of sharing the burden
If there was a room full of people who cared, it’d be crowded
So if your light burns out and you’re in the dark
If you can’t pick up the pieces
If the world you trusted falls apart
If your heart’s run out of reasons
I’ll be there every time you call
Pick you up every time you fall
If you’re going through hell, you’re not alone
If you need somebody, say so
Hold on tight, the sun is gonna rise
So open up your eyes, tomorrow is a brand-new day
Hold on tight, the sun is gonna rise
So open up your eyes, tomorrow is a brand-new day
Photo Credit: Robby Klein
If you or someone you love is in crisis, help is available by calling 988.