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
Never Gonna Let You Go
Ben Rector Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let You Go, Let You Go.
We went down to the water,
So help me father,
I believe, I fell in love.
Since the day we met,
Where you're all I'm dreaming of.
That the sky in June
May as be shade to gray.
Well all I know to say is.
Baby, I am never gonna let you go.
Baby, I am telling everyone I know.
Though the storm may come or the wind they blow.
Baby, I am never gonna let you go
Well, I wanna meet your mother,
Your sister and your brother,
Shake the hand of your daddy too.
'Cause I need his permission,
For what I'm wishing to do.
Ain't no secret dear,
That I want you near,
By my side 'til my dying day,
And I promise you always, listen baby.
Baby, I am never gonna let you go.
Baby, I am telling everyone I know.
Though the storm may come or the wind they blow.
Baby, I am never gonna let you go
Never gonna let you go,
I'm telling everyone I know.
Though the storms may come,
or the wind they blow. Ohh yeah.
Baby, I am never gonna let you go.
Baby, I am telling everyone I know.
Though the storm may come or the wind they blow.
Baby, I am never gonna let you go. Ohh yeah.
The lyrics to Ben Rector’s “Never Gonna Let You Go” are a declaration of love and commitment to someone he deeply cares for. The opening lines repeat “Let You Go” four times, emphasizing his determination to not let go of this person. He then describes a moment of falling in love, perhaps at the water’s edge. He mentions “eyes so blue, that the sky in June may as be shade to gray,” comparing the person’s blue eyes to the beauty of a sunny June sky. He then reiterates his commitment to never let go.
The next portion of the song indicates that the relationship has progressed to a point where he is considering meeting the other person’s family. He expresses his wish to meet the mother, sister, and brother, and seeks approval from the father before making a commitment. He emphasizes the fact that he wants this person to be with him until his “dying day,” and promises to remain faithful always. The chorus repeats again, underlining his unwavering commitment to be with this person.
Overall, the song is a promise of commitment and devotion to another person. The lyrics convey the deep emotions that come with falling in love and the desire to protect and cherish that love. Rector’s voice is smooth and soothing, adding to the overall tenderness of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Let You Go, Let You Go,
Repetition of the phrase emphasizes the singer's commitment to never letting go of the person addressed in the song
Let You Go, Let You Go.
Repetition of the phrase reiterates the singer's statement and commitment to never letting go of the person addressed in the song
We went down to the water,
Sets the scene for where the singer first fell in love with the person addressed in the song
So help me father,
Expressing the artist's genuine sentiment of the experience and a nod to the importance of the moment for him
I believe, I fell in love.
Speaker confesses to falling in love with the person addressed in the song
Since the day we met,
Indicating that the singer has been in love with the person addressed in the song since the day they met
Where you're all I'm dreaming of.
Speaker regularly dreams and thinks about the person addressed in the song
With your eyes so blue,
Describing a specific feature of the person addressed in the song that the artist finds attractive
That the sky in June
Comparing the person's blue eyes to the sky in June, giving an idea of how much the artist values the person's feature
May as be shade to gray.
Further emphasizes how much the artist values the person's blue eyes
Well all I know to say is.
Speaker now moves to express his emotions towards the person addressed in the song
Baby, I am never gonna let you go.
Conveys the artist's heartfelt promise to always be with the person addressed in the song, no matter what happens
Baby, I am telling everyone I know.
Explaining the singer's openness with their feelings and commitment towards the person addressed in the song with everyone they know
Though the storm may come or the wind they blow.
Reiterating the promise of never letting go, even in tough times
Well, I wanna meet your mother,
Speaker expressing the desire to meet the person's mother and further cement their relationship
Your sister and your brother.
Desiring to meet and establish a connection with the person's family
Shake the hand of your daddy too.
Respecting the person's family and seeking the father's approval for serious commitment
'Cause I need his permission,
Making it clear that the singer sees the importance of seeking the father's approval
For what I'm wishing to do.
Speaker indicating that they want to take the relationship further, but with the father's approval
Ain't no secret dear,
Speaker reassuring the person addressed in the song, implying that they have nothing to fear in the relationship
That I want you near,
Reiterating that the artist desires to be close to the person addressed in the song
By my side 'til my dying day,
Making a profound promise of being faithful to the person addressed in the song until his dying day
And I promise you always, listen baby.
Reiterating a promise to always be there for the person addressed in the song
Never gonna let you go,
Repetition of the phrase underpins the commitment and promise made by the artist earlier in the song
I'm telling everyone I know.
Confirms the singer's openness with their feelings towards the person addressed in the song, as earlier stated
Though the storms may come,
Further emphasizing that the friendship is strong, even when it's tested with challenges
or the wind they blow. Ohh yeah.
Speaker's conviction expressed through this phrase to signify their undying commitment to the friendship addressed in the song
Contributed by David H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.