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
Hank
Ben Rector Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am young but you are younger until you speak more words than mumbles.
You'll have to lend an ear to everything I say.
So be kind and love your mother and your father, though sometimes they seem to bother, come my age, and you'll know
There the ones who'll always love you and support you, they prayed for you before you stepped foot into this world.
I remember you were walking, in a month I'll hear you talking.
There's a million things I'd love to say to you.
And though your parents, they are wiser and will be better advisers, maybe hearing these things twice will get them through.
Go and find a girl for whom your love is selfless, someone who makes you helpless, to change the way you feel.
But stay away from girls who always look so pretty, but whose hearts just aren't fitting for the man in you I see.
Would you remember that for me?
When you find yourself alone in times of trouble, reach inside you and above you, there's nothing
He can't heal.
And if it is you do not end up with a brother, just call this older uncle, I will always lend an ear.
Would you remember that for me?
Would you remember that for me?
This song is a heartfelt message from an older brother figure to a young boy who looks just like his mother and is the sister to her brother. The older brother is imparting wisdom and advice to the young boy who is still learning to speak in full sentences. He urges the young boy to love and respect his parents, acknowledging that sometimes they can be difficult, but reassuring him that they will always be there to love and support him.
He also advises the young boy to choose a partner who loves him unconditionally, rather than someone who just looks good on the surface. The older brother reminds the young boy to always have faith and to seek comfort in moments of trouble. Finally, the older brother tells the young boy that he can always count on him for support, and to remember this even if they do not end up being brothers.
Overall, this song is a touching and emotional message about the importance of family, love, and support. It serves as a reminder to us all to cherish the relationships we have with our loved ones and to be there for them when they need us.
Line by Line Meaning
To a boy who looks just like his mother, who's a sister to her brother who sings this song to that boy from far away
This song is being sung to a little boy who resembles his mother and has an older sister. The singer is far away from the boy.
I am young but you are younger until you speak more words than mumbles. You'll have to lend an ear to everything I say.
The singer is young, but the boy is even younger. The boy needs to listen carefully to the singer and speak more clearly to be understood.
So be kind and love your mother and your father, though sometimes they seem to bother, come my age, and you'll know
Despite them being annoying at times, the boy should show love and appreciation for his parents. As he grows older, he will understand their importance better.
There the ones who'll always love you and support you, they prayed for you before you stepped foot into this world. That's one thing that I've learned.
The boy's parents are the ones who will always love and support him, and he should be grateful for them. The singer has learned this from personal experience.
I remember you were walking, in a month I'll hear you talking. There's a million things I'd love to say to you.
The singer remembers when the boy was learning to walk, and it won't be long before he's talking. There's so much the singer wants to share with him.
And though your parents, they are wiser and will be better advisers, maybe hearing these things twice will get them through.
The boy's parents are wiser and better advisers, but the singer hopes that hearing his advice a second time will reinforce it.
Go and find a girl for whom your love is selfless, someone who makes you helpless, to change the way you feel.
The singer advises the boy to find a girl who he loves selflessly and who makes him feel helpless in a good way, as she could be the one for him.
But stay away from girls who always look so pretty, but whose hearts just aren't fitting for the man in you I see. Would you remember that for me?
The singer tells the boy to stay away from girls who only look pretty but whose values don't match his own. He asks the boy to remember this advice for him.
When you find yourself alone in times of trouble, reach inside you and above you, there's nothing He can't heal.
When the boy is feeling lost or scared, he can turn to a higher power for help as there's nothing that can't be healed.
And if it is you do not end up with a brother, just call this older uncle, I will always lend an ear. Would you remember that for me?
If the boy doesn't end up with a brother, the singer wants him to remember that he can always call on him for advice or just someone to talk to.
Would you remember that for me?
The singer reminds the boy to remember his advice and the fact that he cares for him.
Contributed by Adalyn B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.