Songfacts®:

• Inspired by a therapy session with one of Amy Grant's grown children, this heartfelt song dives into the complexities of communication within a family.
• Amy Grant pours her emotions into the lyrics, confessing, "I thought I was telling you I love you, I thought I could make it up with words." She opens up about her relentless efforts to bridge the gap but realizes her intentions didn't match the message received.
  
  The song is a powerful reminder that simply sharing bloodlines doesn't guarantee a deep bond. Genuine relationships require more – they demand presence and attentive listening. "It takes practice to build a better communication tool kit and on the other side, sharpen our receptors; but it's worth the effort to keep trying, to keep communicating," said Grant. "At 62, I still have a lot to learn."
• Amy Grant teamed up with Natalie Hemby and Barry Dean to create "What You Heard." In an interview with Billboard, she revealed that she and her husband Vince Gill gifted their family the invaluable experience of therapy. "Natalie sat down at the piano and I just felt the lyrics spilling out of me," she said.
• Reflecting on their songwriting session together, Hemby noted Grant's ability to take personal experiences and transform them into relatable stories. She witnessed a vulnerable Grant open up to her and Dean about the misconception of thinking her words were reaching out, only to discover they were unintentionally pushing people away. "It was deeply personal for her, but I found it was deeply personal for me too," said Hemby.
• Amy Grant unveiled "What You Heard" on April 28, 2023. The song serves as a follow-up to "Trees We'll Never See," penned by Marshall Altman.
  
  Grant played "What You Heard" for Altman on the very same day he shared his creation, "Trees." Wasting no time, Altman immediately booked musicians, and within 10 days, both songs were recorded.