Nelson began his entertainment career in 1949, playing himself in the radio sitcom series, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. In 1952, he appeared in his first feature film, Here Come the Nelsons. In 1957, he recorded his first single ("I'm Walkin' b/w "A Teenager's Romance", Verve 10047X4S), debuted as a singer on the television version of the sitcom, and released the No. 1 album titled Ricky. In 1958, Nelson released his first #1 single, "Poor Little Fool", and in 1959 received a Golden Globe nomination for "Most Promising Male Newcomer" after starring in Rio Bravo. A few films followed, and when the television series was cancelled in 1966, Nelson made occasional appearances as a guest star on various television programs. In his twenties, he moved away from the pop music of his youth, and began to perform in a more country rock style. After recording several albums with mostly session musicians, most of which flopped, he formed the Stone Canyon Band in 1969 and experienced a career resurgence, buoyed by the live album In Concert at the Troubadour, 1969 and had a surprise hit with 1972's "Garden Party", which peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. His comeback was short-lived, however, as his record label was bought out and folded, and his followup albums were not well promoted by his new label. He continued to perform live and take small television roles through the 1970s, though his label dropped him by the end of the decade. He released two more albums, with unimpressive results, before his death in a plane crash on New Year's Eve, 1985.
Nelson was married once, to Sharon Kristin Harmon, from 1963 until their divorce in 1982. They had four children: actress Tracy Nelson, twin sons and musicians Gunnar and Matthew, and actor Sam.
Nelson was born on May 8, 1940, in Teaneck, New Jersey. He was the second son of entertainment couple Harriet Hilliard Nelson (born Peggy Lou Snyder; July 18, 1909 – October 2, 1994) and Ozzie Nelson (March 20, 1906 – June 3, 1975). His father Ozzie was of half Swedish descent. The Nelsons' older son was actor David Nelson (October 24, 1936 – January 11, 2011).
On May 8, 1961 (his 21st birthday), he officially modified his recording name from "Ricky Nelson" to "Rick Nelson". His childhood nickname proved hard to shake, especially among the generation who had watched him grow up on "Ozzie and Harriet". Even in the 1980s, when Nelson realized his dream of meeting Carl Perkins, Perkins noted that he and "Ricky" were the last of the "rockabilly breed".
In 1963, Nelson signed a 20-year contract with Decca Records. After some early successes with the label, most notably 1964's "For You" (#6), Nelson's chart career came to a dramatic halt in the wake of Beatlemania, The British Invasion, and later the Counterculture era. However, instead of dropping him, Decca kept him on board.
In the mid-1960s, Nelson began to move towards country music, becoming a pioneer in the country-rock genre. He was one of the early influences of the so-called "California Sound" (which would include singers like Jackson Browne and Linda Ronstadt and bands such as Eagles). Yet Nelson himself did not reach the Top 40 again until 1970, when he recorded Bob Dylan's "She Belongs to Me" with the Stone Canyon Band, featuring Randy Meisner, who in 1971 became a founding member of the Eagles, and former Buckaroo steel guitarist Tom Brumley.
Nelson died in a plane crash on New Year's Eve 1985, flying from Guntersville, Alabama, to Dallas, Texas, for a concert. The plane he was on, a Douglas DC-3, had a history of mechanical problems. All seven passengers, including Blair, died. Only the two pilots survived.
Nelson's funeral took place at the Church of the Hills, Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills Cemetery, on January 6, 1986, and he was privately buried in the Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery, in Los Angeles. His estate was bequeathed to his children.
Lonesome Town
Rick Nelson Lyrics
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To cry their troubles away
And they call it lonesome town
Where the broken hearts stay (lonesome town)
You can buy a dream or two
To last you all through the years
And the only price you pay
Is a heartful of tears (full of tears)
Goin' down to lonesome town
Where the broken hearts stay
Goin' down to lonesome town
To cry my troubles away
In the town of broken dreams
The streets are paved with regret
Maybe down in lonesome town
I can learn to forget (to forget)
Maybe down in lonesome town
I can learn to forget
(Lonesome town)
The lyrics of Rick Nelson’s song ‘Lonesome Town’ convey the mood of a desolate town where the broken-hearted come to find solace. The song talks about a place where lovers go when they are lost, and cannot find a way to mend their broken hearts. ‘Lonesome Town’ is a metaphorical representation of the state of mind of those who feel lonely and vulnerable. The lyrics suggest that people who visit this town are looking for something that will provide lasting comfort. The line “you can buy a dream or two to last you all through the years” implies that people can buy temporary relief from their pain, but they will ultimately pay with heartful tears.
The imagery used in the lyrics is quite poignant, portraying a place where dreams turn to regret, and the streets are paved with sadness. The song conveys a sense of hopelessness, but the repetition of the phrase “going down to Lonesome Town” suggests a determination to find a way to heal oneself. The song makes us feel that the best way to get through heartbreak is to allow oneself to feel the pain and embrace the sadness, knowing that it is only when we confront our emotions that we can truly begin to heal.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a place where lovers go
There's a specific location where those who are in love go
To cry their troubles away
They go there to relieve themselves of their emotional stresses
And they call it lonesome town
The location is specifically referred to as 'lonesome town'
Where the broken hearts stay (lonesome town)
The people who visit this place are often those who have suffered heartbreak
You can buy a dream or two
In this place, you can purchase hopes and aspirations
To last you all through the years
These hopes and aspirations are meant to sustain you throughout your lifetime
And the only price you pay
However, there is a cost associated with purchasing these dreams
Is a heartful of tears (full of tears)
This cost is the emotional pain that comes with heartbreak and disappointment
Goin' down to lonesome town
The artist is choosing to visit this place
Where the broken hearts stay
This is a reminder of the type of people who frequent the location
Goin' down to lonesome town
The singer reiterates their decision to visit the place
To cry my troubles away
The artist is looking to relieve their emotional pain
In the town of broken dreams
This place is known for providing unfulfilled aspirations
The streets are paved with regret
This line emphasizes the sadness and disappointment that is commonplace in this location
Maybe down in lonesome town
The singer is hopeful that the location will provide some sort of relief
I can learn to forget (to forget)
The artist is hoping to forget about their emotional pain and heartbreak while in the location
(Lonesome town)
Reiteration of the name of the specific location referenced in the song
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: THOMAS BAKER KNIGHT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind