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THESE WHAT ABOUTS

from RELATIONSHIPS
Written by  Bebe Winans

Bebe & Cece Winans are one of the most successful gospel duos in history. They are part of the illustrious Winans family that includes, among others, their four older brothers who are members of the legendary gospel group, The Winans.

In September of 1994, Bebe & Cece Winans released their Relationships cdThis collection gave the two siblings a couple of minor hit singles on the R&B charts and also two top twenty hits on the US Christian charts. David Foster was one of the producers involved on the album and crafted a couple of solid tracks for Relationships. Foster first collaborated with Bebe & Cece on his successful Christmas album in 1993 where they sang a lovely rendition of the seasonal classic, “The First Noel.” On Relationships, Foster helmed the meaningful ballad “Don’t Let Me Walk This Road Alone” that he co-wrote with his then-wife, Linda Thompson, and fellow music-maker, Keith Thomas. “Don’t Let Me Walk This Road Alone” can be rediscovered in the archives.

The other Foster production on Relationships was an inspirational tune, written and sung by Bebe Winans and titled “These What Abouts.” It was a song with very personal lyrics about a relationship that’s not going well, but where there’s still a ray of hope. Bebe Winans does an excellent job with his vocals. Foster provided him with a magnificent backing track while the legendary Jeremy Lubbock provided a beautiful orchestra arrangement. This song had an instrumental arrangement with tasteful keyboards and guitars that built up, thus emphasizing the emotional power of the lyrics and the singer’s heartfelt performance.

Relationships reached #4 on the Gospel chart and #19 on the R&B chart. It was the last cd for the duo. They decided to focus on their solo careers before reuniting in 2009 for their Still cd.


Listen


  • Lead Vocals: Bebe Winans
  • Drums: John Robinson
  • Keyboards: David Foster
  • Guitars: Michael Thompson
  • Synthesizer Programming: Claude Gaudette
  • Arranged by David Foster & Bebe Winans
  • Strings Arranged by Jeremy Lubbock
  • Produced by David Foster

Lyrics

Now let me start by saying sorry
Thought it might be positively too late
Knowing this one word can’t change things
But yet it can express the way my heart aches
My heart aches.

Cause what about the plans we made
What about the dreams of cascades
What about the vows we pledged
Are they still alive or dead
And what about the promise to stay
Can I still believe it’s OK
Can we somehow talk about these what abouts
These what abouts

So let me just confess I love you
Admitting that I failed to show in times past
So if you just can’t in your heart continue
Know the love you gave forever will last
Forever will last.

And what about the promise to stay
Can I still believe it’s ok

Can we somehow talk about
Somehow work it out
Can we somehow find a way, find a way
Can we somehow find a plan, somewhere there’s a plan
Can we somehow work it out, somehow work it out
Somehow find a way, somehow find a way
Somehow talk about it, somehow talk about it
Somehow there’s an answer, somewhere there’s an answer
Can we somehow work it out, somehow work it out
Can we somehow talk about these what abouts
These what abouts
Can we talk about these what abouts

It won’t hurt to talk about
These what abouts