Born in Oxford, England, Lewis grew up in a family of teachers with two brothers, an older brother named Tom and a twin brother named George. His passion for music began at the age of 13 when he started playing the guitar. However, it was only later, after joining his brothers' band, that he began singing. Lewis attended Bartholomew School in Eynsham and also worked as a 'dinner lady' at Cokethorpe School. At the age of 19, he moved to London to study at the London Centre of Contemporary Music.
Lewis initially started writing songs and performing under the moniker Rhys Lewis & the Relics. His talent caught the attention of Decca Records, which led to the release of his debut solo single, "Waking Up Without You," in late 2016. Over the next year, he released several successful singles, including "Be Your Man" and "Reason to Hate You," gaining millions of streams. Lewis embarked on tours with James TW and JP Cooper during this time.
In 2018, Lewis released his major-label debut, the Bad Timing EP, which further solidified his growing fan base. The EP showcased his soul and blues influences, with his distinctive singing style and guitar skills shining through. Lewis continued to release a string of successful singles in 2019, setting the stage for his debut album, Things I Chose to Remember, which was released in July 2020. The album stands out as it was recorded on analogue tape, a deliberate choice by Lewis to ensure meticulous attention to detail and clarity in the music.
Lewis draws inspiration from artists such as Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys, whose lyrics resonated with him as a songwriter. He also cites influences from Led Zeppelin and Bill Withers, particularly the latter's song "Lean On Me."
His songwriting covers various aspects of his life, addressing topics such as the portrayal of men in the media, mental health, and personal relationships. Many of his songs revolve around themes of heartbreak, including "When Was The Last Time," "Be Your Man," and "Hurting." Lewis finds performing his song "No Right To Love You" particularly challenging due to its connection to a personal heartbreak, as it evokes intense emotions and memories associated with the breakup.
Be Your Man
Rhys Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bet you wish I had his lips
But I don't, no, I don't
And I can't hold you quite the same
Guess my arms don't seem as safe
When it's cold, when it's cold
You got me feelin' like I don't deserve you
But it kills me 'cause I know you still love him
So now you gotta let go of someone
'Cause while you're holding on to what you had
You're not giving me a chance
To ever really be your man
You say you're fine, you're moving on
Say that I'm the only one
But I know, yes, I know
That I'm in his shadow all the time
'Cause he still creeps up on your mind
Like a ghost, like a ghost
You got me feelin' like I don't deserve you
And I'm tryin' to deal with this pain
But it kills me 'cause I know you still love him
So now you gotta let go of someone
'Cause while you're holding on to what you had
You're not giving me a chance
To ever really be your man
But if you let me, I could set your world on fire
And give you somethin' better than you've ever had
And if you let me in, girl we'd have everythin'
But it's like your heart is stuck in the past
And it kills me 'cause I know you still love him
So now you gotta let go of someone
'Cause while you're holding on to what you had
You're not giving me a chance
To ever really be your man
It kills me 'cause I know you still love him
So now you gotta let go of someone
'Cause while you're holding on to what you had
You're not giving me a chance
While you're holding on to what you had
You're not giving me a chance
To ever really be your man
I'll never really be
I'll never really be
I'll never really be your man
In "Be Your Man," Rhys Lewis sings about a challenge many face in relationships - being compared to a past lover. The song is about the frustration and sadness that comes with not living up to a previous partner's standard. In the first verse, Lewis acknowledges that he cannot kiss or hold his love interest like her former partner did, stating "I can't kiss you like he did, Bet you wish I had his lips, But I don't, no, I don't." He feels as though he is not good enough and that she would rather be with her ex. The chorus speaks to the heart of the problem. He believes he could give her more than she has ever had, but she cannot let go of the past to even give him a chance.
In the second verse, Lewis highlights the ongoing struggle that his love interest faces. Even though she tells him that he is the only one and that she is moving on from her past, her former partner still has a presence in her thoughts. He compares this feeling to being haunted, stating "he still creeps up on your mind like a ghost, like a ghost." Though he acknowledges her attempts to move on, he still feels like he is stuck in the past.
Overall, "Be Your Man" is a vulnerable and emotional portrayal of the impact of past relationships on new ones. The lyrics express the frustration and pain felt when trying to live up to a past lover's standard and not feeling like enough for someone you care about.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't kiss you like he did
I lack the same skill as him to kiss you the way you want
Bet you wish I had his lips
You're probably wishing I had the same lips as him
But I don't, no, I don't
Unfortunately, I don't possess the same features as him
And I can't hold you quite the same
I'm not able to hold you in the same manner as him
Guess my arms don't seem as safe
You probably feel that my arms are not as secure as his
When it's cold, when it's cold
Especially when the weather gets colder
You got me feelin' like I don't deserve you
Your actions make me feel unworthy of you
And I'm tryin' to deal with this pain
I'm doing my best to manage the emotional pain caused by this situation
But it kills me 'cause I know you still love him
It pains me to know that you still have feelings for him
So now you gotta let go of someone
You need to face up to the reality that you can't hold on to both of us
'Cause while you're holding on to what you had
As long as you cling to the past and what you had with him
You're not giving me a chance
You're not giving me an opportunity to prove myself to you
To ever really be your man
I'll never truly be your partner unless you give me a fair chance
You say you're fine, you're moving on
You claim to be alright and over him
Say that I'm the only one
You claim that you're committed to me
But I know, yes, I know
However, I'm aware
That I'm in his shadow all the time
That I'm constantly being compared to him and coming up short
'Cause he still creeps up on your mind
Because he still occupies your thoughts every now and then
Like a ghost, like a ghost
Lingering in your mind like an apparition
But if you let me, I could set your world on fire
Despite all this, if you give me a chance, I could bring passion and excitement into your life
And give you somethin' better than you've ever had
I could provide you with something that's superior to anything you've experienced before
And if you let me in, girl we'd have everythin'
If you allow me to be a part of your life, we could have it all
But it's like your heart is stuck in the past
It seems like you're unwilling to let go of the past and move on
I'll never really be
Unfortunately, I will never truly become
I'll never really be
No matter how hard I try, I'll never truly be
I'll never really be your man
Your true partner in life
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Rhys Lewis, Jeff Franzel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robert KHT
Lyrics I hope...
[Verse 1]
Well, I could kiss you like he did
Bet you wish I had his lips
But I don't, no, I don't
And I could hold you quite the same
Guess my arms don't seem as safe
When it's cold, when it's cold
[Chorus]
You got me feelin' like I don't deserve you
And I'm tryin' to deal with this pain
But it kills me 'cause I know you still love him
Tonight you gotta let go of someone
'Cause while you're holding on on what you had
You're not giving me a chance
To ever really be your man
[Verse 2]
You say you're fine, you're moving on
Say that I'm the only one
But I know, yes, I know
That I'm in his shadow all the time
'Cause he still creeps up on your mind
Like a ghost, like a ghost
[Chorus]
You got me feelin' like I don't deserve you
And I'm tryin' to deal with this pain
But it kills me 'cause I know you still love him
Tonight you gotta let go of someone
'Cause while you're holding on on what you had
You're not giving me a chance
To ever really be your man
[Bridge]
But if you let me, I could set your world on fire
Give you somethin' better than you've ever had
And if you let me in, girl we'd have everythin'
But it's like your heart is stuck in the past
[Chorus]
And it kills me 'cause I know you still love him
Tonight you gotta let go of someone
'Cause while you're holding on on what you had
You're not giving me a chance
To ever really be your man
Kai Hill
How doesn’t this song have more attention, it is magnificent
Candy Wright
This song speaks for itself in volume,beautiful beautiful song,very heartfelt
Leticia Vieira
@Maryjane Bulhoes BJ mnaboj
𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐨
No let's keep it secret for us, ppl ruin anything
Mihika Satpathy
Oh wait it will! I am sharing to the Indian audience🌸 .. Huge market u see❤️
Ankita Nayak
Look at it now buddy :))
I'm sure not as much as you'd want, but isn't it better than 2 years ago? :)
Kiyana Piper
My bf heard me listening to this and said this is how he felt when we first got together... And it made me so sad .... it's nice hearing songs where men are transparent
V White
I just found him and I feel like I've hit the jackpot. His voice is SO beautiful. It's like an angel. I'm SHOOK
Niκκi
What the hell? This song and singer deserves so much more recognition :/
Mad Ladd
@Enrique Vega Hernandes r/ihadastroke ?