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.
What If
Rhys Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To cut out the noise
To get me to hear
The love in your voice
But I was so deaf
To all but myself
So you just went silent
Stopped trying to help
It took a while to realize
But things are clearer over time
And those mistakes we made were mine
But what if, what if we'd held on for longer?
What if, what if breaking made us stronger?
Either way I'm contemplating
If there's a way to get you back
'Cause every day I'm tired of thinking
What if? What if? What if? What if?
Well I know you tried
To get me to see
Myself in the mirror
The way that you saw me
But I was so blind
And all I could do
Was think that my darkness
Was the shadow of you
But what if, what if we'd held on for longer?
Or what if, what if breaking made us stronger?
Either way I'm contemplating
If there's a way to get you back
'Cause every day I'm tired of thinking
What if? What if? What if?
Every day I learn to love you a little more
And every day I swear to give you
What I never gave before
If every day I learn to love you a little more
And every day I swear to give you
What I never gave before
What I never gave before
So, what if? What if? What if? What if? What if? What if?
What if, what if we'd held on for longer?
What if, what if breaking made us stronger?
Either way I'm contemplating
If there's a way to get you back
'Cause every day I'm tired of thinking
What if? what if? what if?
Every day I learn to love you a little more
And every day I swear to give you
What I never gave before
If every day I learn to love you a little more
And every day I swear to give you
What I never gave before
In the song "What If" by Rhys Lewis, the singer reminisces on the past and wonders what could have been if he had just listened to his partner more. The first verse highlights how the partner attempted to reach out and communicate their love but was met with deaf ears. The second verse continues the theme of the singer's partner trying to help them see themselves better, but the singer was too blinded by their own insecurities to see the truth. The chorus poses the question "what if we'd held on for longer? What if breaking made us stronger?" and the singer acknowledges the weight of the decision to end a relationship.
Throughout the song, the singer seems to be in a state of regret and contemplation. He longs for another chance with his partner and vows to love them more deeply and give them more than before. The repetition of "what if" throughout the song highlights the singer's constant questioning of the past and the possibilities that could have been if only he had acted differently.
Overall, "What If" is a heartfelt ballad that delves into the emotions of regret and longing for a lost love. It speaks to the universal experience of wondering "what could have been" and the desire for redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
I know you tried
The singer acknowledges that his partner made an effort to communicate love to him.
To cut out the noise
His partner made an effort to make their relationship more clear by removing distractions.
To get me to hear
His partner aimed to make the singer truly listen to and understand their love.
The love in your voice
His partner attempted to effectively show the singer their feelings.
But I was so deaf
The singer struggled to properly understand and respond to his partner's attempts to communicate.
To all but myself
The singer was only focused on his own feelings and missed those of his partner.
So you just went silent
His partner stopped trying to express their feelings because of the singer's lack of understanding.
Stopped trying to help
Because of their ineffective communication, the singer's partner gave up on trying to improve the situation.
But what if, what if we'd held on for longer?
The singer wonders if their relationship could have survived if they had continued trying despite initial failures.
What if, what if breaking made us stronger?
The singer also wonders if the struggles they faced and their eventual split could have actually strengthened their relationship in retrospect.
Either way I'm contemplating
The singer is considering every possible outcome and trying to figure out what could have been done differently.
If there's a way to get you back
The singer still hopes to reconcile with his partner despite their problems.
'Cause every day I'm tired of thinking
The weight of the singer's regrets is becoming unbearable day by day.
What if? What if? What if? What if?
The singer is plagued with never-ending thoughts and questions about what could have been.
Well I know you tried
The singer acknowledges again the effort his partner put in previously.
To get me to see
His partner attempted to make him understand how they saw him.
Myself in the mirror
The singer's partner wanted him to see himself as they did.
The way that you saw me
They wanted the singer to view himself positively.
But I was so blind
Unfortunately, the singer wasn't receptive to his partner's point of view.
And all I could do
The singer was stuck only focusing on his own negativity and couldn't see past it.
Was think that my darkness
The singer identified only with his own negative qualities and couldn't see the positive aspects.
Was the shadow of you
He incorrectly attributed his own self-image to his partner, as if they were casting a negative shadow on him.
Every day I learn to love you a little more
The singer is beginning to appreciate his partner's admirable qualities more and more with time.
And every day I swear to give you
The singer makes a promise to improve their relationship by being a better partner.
What I never gave before
He wants to improve by giving his partner more love, support and effort than before.
If every day I learn to love you a little more
The singer is aware that his love for his partner is growing every day.
And every day I swear to give you
He intends to improve not just his feelings but also his actions.
What I never gave before
He realizes he could have done better in the past and makes a commitment to make positive changes.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Henry Brill, Rhys Lewis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James Harry Estrella
[Verse 1]
I know you tried to cut out the noise
To get me to hear the love in your voice
But I was so deaf to all but myself
So you just went silent and stopped trying to help
[Pre-Chorus]
It took a while to realise but things are clearer over time
And those mistakes we made were mine
[Chorus]
So what if, what if we'd held on for longer?
Or what if, what if breaking made us stronger?
Either way, I'm contemplating if there's a way to get you back
'Cause every day I'm tired of thinking what if, what if, what if, what if
[Verse 2]
Well I know you tried to get me to see
Myself in the mirror the way that you saw me
But I was so blind, that all I could do
Was think that my darkness was the shadow of you
[Chorus]
But what if, what if we'd held on for longer?
Or what if, what if breaking made us stronger?
Either way, I'm contemplating if there's a way to get you back
'Cause every day I'm tired of thinking what if, what if, what if
[Post-Chorus]
Every day I learn to love you a little more
And every day, I swear to give you what I never gave before
If every day I learn to love you a little more
And every day, I swear to give you what I never gave before
What I never gave before
[Bridge]
So what if, what if, what if, what if, what if, what if
[Chorus]
What if, what if we'd held on for longer?
What if, what if breaking made us stronger?
Either way, I'm contemplating if there's a way to get you back
'Cause every day I'm tired of thinking what if, what if, what if
[Post-Chorus]
Every day I learn to love you a little more
And every day, I swear to give you what I never gave before
If every day I learn to love you a little more
And every day, I swear to give you what I never gave before
Aisha Rudy
I can feel the pain in his voice and this song is so good
James Harry Estrella
[Verse 1]
I know you tried to cut out the noise
To get me to hear the love in your voice
But I was so deaf to all but myself
So you just went silent and stopped trying to help
[Pre-Chorus]
It took a while to realise but things are clearer over time
And those mistakes we made were mine
[Chorus]
So what if, what if we'd held on for longer?
Or what if, what if breaking made us stronger?
Either way, I'm contemplating if there's a way to get you back
'Cause every day I'm tired of thinking what if, what if, what if, what if
[Verse 2]
Well I know you tried to get me to see
Myself in the mirror the way that you saw me
But I was so blind, that all I could do
Was think that my darkness was the shadow of you
[Chorus]
But what if, what if we'd held on for longer?
Or what if, what if breaking made us stronger?
Either way, I'm contemplating if there's a way to get you back
'Cause every day I'm tired of thinking what if, what if, what if
[Post-Chorus]
Every day I learn to love you a little more
And every day, I swear to give you what I never gave before
If every day I learn to love you a little more
And every day, I swear to give you what I never gave before
What I never gave before
[Bridge]
So what if, what if, what if, what if, what if, what if
[Chorus]
What if, what if we'd held on for longer?
What if, what if breaking made us stronger?
Either way, I'm contemplating if there's a way to get you back
'Cause every day I'm tired of thinking what if, what if, what if
[Post-Chorus]
Every day I learn to love you a little more
And every day, I swear to give you what I never gave before
If every day I learn to love you a little more
And every day, I swear to give you what I never gave before
Sarah Araide
Thank you A LOT!
Heinz Guderian
❤
Jarvh
I love how you arrange the lyrics perfectly ❤️
Patricia Gerges
Verse 2 hits hard!
"Well I know you tried to get me to see
Myself in the mirror the way that you saw me
But I was so blind, that all I could do
Was think that my darkness was the shadow of you"
Huma
so underrated, love his music
Patricia Gerges
This songs hits me like a storm, the song, his voice and the lyrics. I have been listening to this non-stop and the emotions that this song stirs up in me like oh goodness.
Baller_IDGAF
since i found this man, he's been one of my favorite artists ❤️
King Vang
"Well i know you tried to get me to see myself in the mirror the way that you saw me but I was so blind that all I could do was think that my darkness was the shadow of you." SHIT HITS LIKE A TON OF BRICKS. Almost 4 yrs and I still think of the what ifs