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.
Am I Blue
Rick Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waiting on the weary shore
I'm just a woman who's only human
One you should feel sorry for
It was a morning, long before dawn
Without a warning I found he was gone
How could he do it, why should he do it
Am I blue, am I blue
Ain't these tears in these eyes telling you
How can you ask me am I blue
Why, wouldn't you be too
If each plan with your man
Done fell through
There was a time
When I was his only one
But now I'm the sad and lonely one...lonely
Was I gay, until today
Now he's gone, and we're through
Am I blue
These lyrics, from Rick Nelson's song "Am I Blue?" explore the emotions of a woman who has been left by her partner. The opening lines establish her as a sympathetic character; she is portrayed as a woman who is waiting on the shore, alone and vulnerable. She speaks directly to the listener, noting that she is just a human being who deserves pity. The second verse explains how she discovered that her partner had left her without warning, leaving her confused and questioning why he would do such a thing.
The refrain of the song repeats the question, "Am I Blue?" The tears in her eyes are an indication of her sadness and loss, which she believes should make it obvious to anyone who looks at her that she is indeed blue. She questions why anyone would even ask such a thing and suggests that if they were in her shoes, they would feel just as sad. The final lines reveal that there was a time when she felt happy and fulfilled in the relationship, but that time has passed, leaving her feeling heartbroken and alone.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm just a woman, a lonely woman
I am an individual who identifies as female and currently lack companionship or close relationships
Waiting on the weary shore
I am waiting patiently with feelings of fatigue and exhaustion for a hoped-for occurrence
I'm just a woman who's only human
I am a human being who is experiencing emotions and vulnerabilities like any other person
One you should feel sorry for
You should express feelings of compassion and empathy towards me
It was a morning, long before dawn
At an early hour when daylight had not yet arrived
Without a warning I found he was gone
I discovered suddenly, and without any prior indication, that my partner had left or abandoned me
How could he do it, why should he do it
I am perplexed and questioning the motives and reasoning behind his actions
He never done it before
This is the first time he has engaged in this behavior towards me
Am I blue, am I blue
Am I feeling sad or depressed, marked by tears or visible signs of emotional distress?
Ain't these tears in these eyes telling you
Do you not see the tears that have welled up in my eyes as evidence of my emotional state?
How can you ask me am I blue
Why would you ask me if I am upset or downcast when the evidence is quite clear?
Why, wouldn't you be too
If you were in my current situation, would you not also experience emotions of sadness and despair?
If each plan with your man
If every mutual undertaking or arrangement you had with your partner
Done fell through
Has now come to nothing or been disrupted in some way
There was a time
Previously, there existed a period
When I was his only one
During which I was the sole focus of his attention and affection
But now I'm the sad and lonely one...lonely
Now, however, I am experiencing feelings of profound sadness and isolation by myself
Was I gay, until today
Was I previously joyful, content, or satisfied until my partner left me and my emotions shifted?
Now he's gone, and we're through
My partner has left me permanently, and our relationship has come to an end
Am I blue
Am I experiencing a state of depression, sadness or hopelessness?
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GRANT CLARKE, HARRY AKST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind