The group's sound was marked by Scotty Scott's fluid, melodic voice which featured on virtually all of their hits. Scotty's sound was so distinctive and likeable that, in his heyday, he was as recognizable as such noted R&B lead singers as Ronald Isley of The Isley Brothers.[citation needed]
In 1987, they enjoyed a career resurgence when "Rock Steady" hit #1 on the R&B charts, and it became their first Top 10 success on the Hot 100, reaching #7. The Whispers also founded the Black Tie record label.
In the 1990s, The Whispers joined the Capitol Records family releasing more favorites. Expanding their creative horizons, brothers Walter and Scotty cut “My Brothers Keeper”, a critically-acclaimed duet album in 1993, scoring another R&B hit with a cover of the Intruders' "I Wanna Know Your Name." The 1995 release “Toast to the Ladies” featured a collection of love songs dedicated to women all over the world. In 1997, the group moved to Interscope Records where they featured the works of Baby face once again with their album, "Songbook, Vol. 1: The Songs of Babyface”. Both albums charted on Billboard's top 100 albums.
Marcus stopped performing with the group in 1989 due to ill health and the Whispers vowed never to replace him when he died in 2000. In the new millennium, the group still performs around the world to thousands of loyal fans. The group has not made any personnel changes and still consists of Walter Scott, Wallace Scott, Nicholas Caldwell, and Leaveil Degree. They have taken the world by storm, selling out in various casinos and hotels, music venues, and they have a tremendous following throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Africa. However, they still find time for charity work with youth education, cancer organizations, 100 Black Men, and Domestic violence charities.
On September 23, 2003, The Whispers’ four decades of accomplishments were acknowledged when they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. On June 12, 2005, The San Francisco Chapter of the Grammy Awards presented the Whispers with the prestigious Governors Award, the highest honor bestowed by an Academy Chapter. They were also inducted into the Bay Area Blues Society Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2007, The Black Music Academy of America selected the Whispers to receive their “Living Legends” award.
They are one of only a few “old school” groups that can boast of having over 40 years in the industry with a worldwide fan base. The Whispers waited almost a decade to produce a new CD in 2005. This independent product, the first venture of their newly formed corporation Satin Tie Entertainment is a masterpiece entitled, “For Your Ears Only”. According to Walter, “This title was a way of saying to our fans that while we want everyone’s support, we very much want the support of our fans, who have been with us for many, many years.” It made its way up the Billboard chart immediately. In 2007, they release a DVD of their live concert entitled “The Whispers Live From Las Vegas”, the first of its kind. A CD soundtrack of the same concert was also released.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Seven Gold Albums, Two Platinum Albums, 12 Top Twenty Singles, 40 Charted Hits Since 1970, Four Decades of Pop & R & B FavoritesAmerican Music Award Nominees, Soul Train Award Nominees, Grammy Award Nominees
2003 Vocal Group Hall of Fame Inductees, 2005 S.F. Regional Grammy Governors Award
Seven Whole Days
The Whispers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Darlin
You know if you cared anything about love
You woulda been front and center
Lovin me and touchin me
Honey
Honey
You know if you knew anything about me
Ooh squeezin me, caressin me
You coulda had about anything you wanted
But you messed it up
You had to be tough
You told your friends
You had me wrapped around your finger
You were talking kinda cocky
Like you had it goin on
All the while you knew
That things were kinda shaky
You knew that you were wrong
Dead wrong to be
Mistreating me
How can we go on
Seven whole days
And not a word from you
Seven whole nights
Im just about thru
I cant take it, wont take it
Cant take it no more
I had about enough of you
Id rather be on my own
Yes on my own
Sugar
Sugar
You know if you knew anything about sweet
You woulda been talkin to me
Everyday
Seven days a week
Baby
Baby
You shoulda been givin me
A little more time
But you were just much too busy
Abusin me and usin me
I woulda done about anything
Ya wanted
I was there for you
I was crazy about you
When I was sittin thinkin
I was kinda special
You were runnin round
Hittin every other girl in town
How could you love me
When you knew you played me funny
You knew that you were wrong
Dead wrong to be
Mistreating me
How can we go on
Seven whole days
And not a word from you
Seven whole nights
Im just about thru
I cant take it, wont take it
Cant take it no more
I had about enough of you
Id rather be on my own
Yes on my own
Deep in my heart
You were number one to start
But then you changed
You threw my heart away
Told your friends that
You were runnin thangs
Whyd it have to be that way
Youre wrong
Dead wrong
Tell me how
How can we go wrong
Seven whole days
And not a word from you
Seven whole nights
Im just about thru
I cant take it, wont take it
Cant take it no more
I had about enough of you
Id rather be on my own
Yes on my own
The Whispers's hit Seven Whole Days is a song about a relationship in trouble. The lyrics describe a situation in which the singer is deeply dissatisfied with their partner's behavior. The singer is pleading with their partner to give them more attention, more love, more tenderness. In the first verse, the singer tells their partner that they had everything they wanted, but now they have messed it up. The partner was cocky, thinking that they had the singer wrapped around their finger, but the singer knew that things were shaky and wrong. The second verse begins in a similar vein, with the singer detailing how the partner should have been treating them like they were special, but instead was running around with other women. The chorus repeats the hook seven whole days, and seven whole nights, emphasizing the length of time that the partner has been absent or unresponsive. The singer declares that they have had enough and would rather be on their own.
The song is filled with heartache, longing, and frustration. The beat is mellow and easy on the ears, evoking the sense of sadness and resignation that comes from a relationship that has gone sour. One interesting aspect of the song is how the hook, "Seven whole days," emphasizes the length of time that has passed since the partner last contacted the singer. It creates a sense of urgency, an urgency that builds until the final chorus, where the singer decides that they are done with this toxic relationship. The melody itself is haunting, with a minor chord progression that contributes to the overall sense of melancholy.
Line by Line Meaning
Darlin
The singer addresses their lover, who they believe doesn't truly care about their relationship.
Darlin
The singer continues to address their partner, emphasizing that their lack of care is a significant issue in their relationship.
You know if you cared anything about love
The singer expresses that their partner's lack of care for the relationship is shown through their actions, or lack thereof.
You woulda been front and center
The singer believes that if their partner truly cared about them, they would prioritize their relationship above all else.
Lovin me and touchin me
The singer believes that if their partner truly loved them, they would show physical affection and intimacy.
Honey
The singer uses a term of endearment to address their partner.
Honey
The singer repeats the term of endearment to emphasize the severity of their partner's lack of care in the relationship.
You know if you knew anything about me
The singer believes that their partner does not truly know or understand them, as evidenced by their mistreatment.
You woulda been much more tender
The singer believes that their partner should have been more gentle and kind in their actions towards them.
Ooh squeezin me, caressin me
The singer believes that their partner should have shown them physical affection and intimacy, rather than mistreating them.
You coulda had about anything you wanted
The singer believes that their partner had the opportunity to have a strong and loving relationship with them, but instead chose to mistreat them.
But you messed it up
The singer blames their partner for the demise of their relationship, as they believe their mistreatment caused its end.
You had to be tough
The singer believes that their partner's mistreatment was a result of their attempt to appear strong or dominant.
You told your friends
The singer believes that their partner bragged to others about their mistreatment and control over them.
You had me wrapped around your finger
The singer believes that their partner believed they had complete control and manipulation over them.
You were talking kinda cocky
The singer believes that their partner was arrogant and overconfident in their control over the relationship.
Like you had it goin on
The singer believes that their partner believed they were superior in the relationship, leading to their mistreatment and lack of care towards them.
All the while you knew
The singer believes that their partner was fully aware of the harm they were causing, despite their mistreatment.
That things were kinda shaky
The singer implies that their partner knew their mistreatment was causing issues in their relationship.
You knew that you were wrong
The singer believes that their partner knew their actions were causing harm and damage to their relationship.
Dead wrong to be
The singer emphasizes that their partner's actions were completely and undeniably harmful, leading to the end of their relationship.
Mistreating me
The singer believes that their partner mistreated them excessively and caused significant harm in their relationship.
How can we go on
The singer asks how their relationship can continue when their partner mistreated them so severely and without care.
Seven whole days
The singer reflects on how their partner has gone a significant amount of time without speaking to them or showing any care in their relationship.
And not a word from you
The singer emphasizes that their partner has not contacted them in any way, despite their mistreatment and the damage it caused to their relationship.
Im just about thru
The singer expresses that they are nearly at their limit with their partner's mistreatment and lack of care in their relationship.
I cant take it, wont take it
The singer emphasizes that they will no longer tolerate their partner's mistreatment and lack of care in their relationship.
Cant take it no more
The singer has reached their breaking point and cannot handle their partner's mistreatment any longer.
I had about enough of you
The singer has grown tired of their partner's mistreatment and is ready to move on from their relationship.
Id rather be on my own
The singer implies that they would rather be alone than continue to endure their partner's mistreatment and lack of care in their relationship.
Yes on my own
The singer emphasizes again that they would prefer to be alone than to endure their partner's mistreatment any longer.
Sugar
The singer continues to address their partner with another term of endearment.
Sugar
The singer repeats the term of endearment to emphasize the severity of their partner's mistreatment and lack of care in their relationship.
You know if you knew anything about sweet
The singer believes that their partner should have known how to be kind and sweet in their relationship.
You woulda been talkin to me
The singer believes that their partner should have been communicating with them regularly and showing interest in their relationship.
Everyday
The singer emphasizes that their partner should have been showing care and affection towards them on a daily basis.
Seven days a week
The singer further emphasizes that their partner should have been prioritizing their relationship and showing them care and affection every day of the week.
Baby
The singer uses another term of endearment to address their partner.
Baby
The singer repeats the term of endearment to emphasize the severity of their partner's mistreatment and lack of care in their relationship.
You shoulda been givin me
The singer believes that their partner should have been giving them attention, care, and affection.
A little more time
The singer implies that their partner was not dedicating enough time or energy towards their relationship.
But you were just much too busy
The singer believes that their partner had other priorities or distractions that caused them to neglect their relationship.
Abusin me and usin me
The singer believes that their partner mistreated and exploited them in their relationship.
I woulda done about anything
The singer believes that they would have done anything for their partner if they had shown them care and affection in their relationship.
Ya wanted
The singer emphasizes that they would have gone to great lengths to please their partner, if only they had shown them care and affection.
I was there for you
The singer implies that they were always available and supportive towards their partner, despite their mistreatment.
I was crazy about you
The singer admits that they had strong feelings of love and affection towards their partner, even in the midst of their mistreatment.
When I was sittin thinkin
The singer reflects on a moment where they were contemplating their relationship and its issues.
I was kinda special
The singer believed that they were unique and valuable in the relationship.
You were runnin round
The singer implies that their partner was not focusing on the relationship and may have been pursuing other romantic interests.
Hittin every other girl in town
The singer accuses their partner of pursuing other romantic interests and being unfaithful to the relationship.
How could you love me
The singer questions how their partner could claim to love them, while simultaneously mistreating and being unfaithful to the relationship.
When you knew you played me funny
The singer believes that their partner was aware of their mistreatment and infidelity, but continued to deceive them regardless.
Youre wrong
The singer emphasizes that their partner's mistreatment and infidelity were completely unacceptable and inappropriate.
Dead wrong
The singer strongly emphasizes that their partner's mistreatment and infidelity were completely inappropriate and unacceptable, and should be acknowledged as such.
Tell me how
The singer asks their partner how they can continue their relationship after their mistreatment and infidelity.
How can we go wrong
The singer reflects on how their relationship could continue after their partner has mistreated and been unfaithful to them.
Writer(s): Babyface, B. Edmonds Kenneth, Antonio Reid, Kenneth Edmonds
Contributed by Aubrey O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.