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 Wild Things Were
Rhys Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the first signs of blossom on our cherry trees
And I still hear rivers from old memories
I still star at starlight but only in dreams
'Cause we broke the home that we had
And there's no, there's no going back
To when things were aliveAnd blue could describe
The color the sky was before it burned
When we still woke up to the sound of the birds
And we didn't have to wonder what wild things were
Well I'm scared of forgetting how things used to be
Like the days we could lay down on grass that was green
And I miss how the winter once painted these streets
And the sound that the snow made under my feet
'Cause we broke the home that we had
And there's no, there's no going back
To when things were alive
And blue could describe
The color the sky was before it burned
When we still woke up to the sound of the birds
And we didn't have to wonder what wild things were
When we still woke up to the sound of the birds
And we didn't have to wonder what wild things were
Well if I have a daughter how will I ever tell her
The ghost that came before her
Just broke the home that she has
There's no, there's no going back
To when things were alive
And blue could describe
How she'll never wake up to the sound of the birds
And she's always gonna wonder what wild things were, no, no, no
How she'll never wake up to the sound of the birds
And she's always gonna wonder what wild things were
She's always gonna wonder, she's never gonna know
She's always gonna wonder, she's never gonna know
What wild things were
What wild things were
What wild things, wild things were
In Rhys Lewis's song "What Wild Things Were," he reminisces about the past and the beauty of the natural world. He starts the song by recalling the turning of the leaves and the blossoming of cherry trees. He still hears rivers from old memories and gazes at starlight only in dreams. He realizes that things have changed, and he can never go back to the time when everything was alive and blue described the color of the sky before it burned. He used to wake up to the sound of birds, but now he wonders what wild things were.
Rhys Lewis is scared of forgetting how things used to be, such as the days when he could lay down on green grass and the winter painted the streets white. He misses the sound the snow made under his feet. He knows that he can never go back to the time when things were alive and pure. He wants to pass on the beauty of the past to his daughter, but he wonders how he can tell her that the ghost of the past broke the home she has now. She will never wake up to the sound of birds, and she will always wonder what wild things were.
"What Wild Things Were" is a beautiful and poignant song that reflects on the beauty of the natural world and how the past can never be relived. It is about nostalgia, reflection, and the passage of time.
Line by Line Meaning
I still remember the turn of the leaves
I have a clear memory of the changing of seasons
And the first signs of blossom on our cherry trees
I remember watching the first blooms grow on our cherry trees
And I still hear rivers from old memories
I recall the sounds of rivers from past experiences
I still star at starlight but only in dreams
I only see the stars in my dreams now
'Cause we broke the home that we had
Our relationship fell apart
And there's no, there's no going back
There's no way to restore or fix what we lost
To when things were alive
To a time when things were vibrant and full of life
And blue could describe
When the sky was a shade of blue
The color the sky was before it burned
Before something damaged the once-beautiful sky
When we still woke up to the sound of the birds
We used to rise to the sound of the birds each morning
And we didn't have to wonder what wild things were
We knew what it was like to experience natural beauty without concern
Well I'm scared of forgetting how things used to be
I'm afraid I'll forget the memories I cherish
Like the days we could lay down on grass that was green
Days when we could relax on a patch of lush green grass
And I miss how the winter once painted these streets
I long for the beauty of winter's past on these streets
And the sound that the snow made under my feet
The memory of the crunching snow under footfalls resonates with me
Well if I have a daughter how will I ever tell her
I worry about explaining what will be lost to future generations
The ghost that came before her
The remnants of the past and our mistakes
Just broke the home that she has
Our actions have caused damage that future generations will have to deal with
How she'll never wake up to the sound of the birds
What will be lost to a future without appreciation and protection of nature
And she's always gonna wonder what wild things were, no, no, no
There will always be a sense of loss and questioning about the natural world
She's always gonna wonder, she's never gonna know
Future generations may never experience the natural beauty we took for granted
What wild things were
The beauty and freedom of wild nature that we've lost
What wild things were
The untamed and uncontrolled natural world that used to exist
What wild things, wild things were
The un-restrictive and un-suppressed beauty of the wilderness that we used to appreciate
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Henry Brill, Rhys Lewis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind