Rector took piano lessons as a small child but did not begin playing music seriously until he picked up the guitar in high school. He began writing songs in tenth grade and formed a band called Euromart the following year. Euromart made an EP and played club shows in Tulsa, but dissolved when the members left for college.
After high school, Rector attended the University of Arkansas where he studied marketing. During his freshman year he recorded a self-titled EP that featured the song “Conversation”, which won the Grand Prize in the pop category of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in 2006. He is the youngest person ever to win the award for the pop category. The EP grew popular in surrounding states, and by his sophomore year, Rector began touring frequently on weekends and during breaks in the school year. In 2008 Rector released his first full-length record, Twenty Tomorrow, followed by Songs That Duke Wrote in 2009. In 2009 Rector was given the NAMA award for best singer songwriter in Northwest Arkansas. During his college career at the University of Arkansas he played approximately 200 shows.
In June 2009 Rector moved to Nashville with his wife to pursue songwriting and to continue his career as an artist. On November 28, 2009 he released Jingles and Bells, a Christmas album composed of classic Christmas songs. Rector arranged the songs and played all the instruments on the album. He released his most recent album Into The Morning on February 16, 2010. Through word of mouth, the record peaked at #5 on the iTunes pop chart, #10 on the iTunes overall chart, and #11 on Billboard Heatseekers.[3] Immediately following the release, Rector co-headlined the “Three Amigos” tour throughout the eastern half of the United States with fellow Nashvillians Steve Moakler and Andrew Ripp. Later in the spring of 2010 he toured with both Dave Barnes and Five for Fighting.
His song “After All” was used in the June 15, 2010 episode of the ABC Family show Pretty Little Liars.
Albums
Year Title
2007 Twenty Tomorrow
2008 Songs That Duke Wrote
2010 Into the Morning
2011 Something like This
EPs
Year Title
2006 Ben Rector
2009 Jingles and Bells
Singles
Year Title
2010 Summer Candy
After All
Ben Rector Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The good Lord has blessed me well today to put my plow on the ground
Until then, when the sun retires
And then I'll see your face, lit now by candle lights
But all I see is just this sunny weather
And all I need is the one I love
So lord please bless me with some time together
After all
So I've been around the bend
Past Clarkesville station there, down by the rivers end
Heard tales from far away
But that's where the stars are by, down where the angels lay
But all I see is just this sunny weather
And all I need is the one I love
So lord please bless me with some time together
And I won't ask for anymore, after all
After all
After all is said and done
After all
After all
After all has come and gone
But all I see is just this stormy weather
And all I need is the one I love
So lord please bless me with some time together
And I won't ask for anymore, after all
After all
The lyrics of Ben Rector's song "After All" convey a sense of gratitude and a longing for the one he loves. The song opens with the singer expressing his gratefulness for the blessings he has received in life. He talks about the sun rising and how it blesses him with the opportunity to put his plow on the ground. These lines suggest that the singer is a farmer and he is thankful for the opportunity to work on his land.
The next line indicates that the singer is separated from the one he loves, and he longs to see her. He talks about the candle lights and how they brighten up her face. The following verse talks about how the singer has traveled far and heard tales from far away places, but ultimately, he longs to be with his loved one.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase, "All I see is just this sunny weather and all I need is the one I love." The singer implores the Lord to bless him with some time together with his loved one and declares that he won't ask for anything more "after all." The last verse of the song talks about how the singer longs for his loved one even in stormy weather and implores the Lord to bless him with time together.
Overall, the lyrics of "After All" suggest a deep sense of gratitude and a longing for the one the singer loves. The song is a beautiful representation of the human desire for companionship and how we are all searching for that one person to spend our lives with.
Line by Line Meaning
So arise, when the sun comes around
I will wake up when the sun rises
The good Lord has blessed me well today to put my plow on the ground
I am grateful for the blessings of being able to work and take care of myself today
Until then, when the sun retires
I will work until the sun sets
And then I'll see your face, lit now by candle lights
I will spend time with my loved one in the evening
But all I see is just this sunny weather
Despite the beauty of the day, all I can think about is my loved one
And all I need is the one I love
Nothing else matters to me as much as being with my loved one
So lord please bless me with some time together
I ask for divine help to have time with my loved one
And I won't ask for anymore
I don't need anything else if I can be with my loved one
After all
In the end, nothing else matters
So I've been around the bend
I have had my share of experiences
Past Clarkesville station there, down by the rivers end
I have been to different places and seen different things
Heard tales from far away
I have heard stories from other people's experiences
But that's where the stars are by, down where the angels lay
The most beautiful and special moments in life can be found in unexpected places
After all is said and done
When everything else is finished
After all has come and gone
When everything else has passed
But all I see is just this stormy weather
Even in difficult times, my thoughts are focused on my loved one
Contributed by Jack J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.