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.
Congratulations
Rick Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You are no part of me even started lying to me
If you started out to break this heart inside of me
Congratulations to you dear you're doing fine
I pass you on the street you don't speak to me
You just look at me then you walk away from me
And if you started out to make a fool of me
Well you should be commanded for the sorrow you cause me
How does it feel to be the Queen of Misery
If you started out to break this heart inside of me
Congratulations to you dear you're doing fine
[ guitar ]
Well you should be commanded...
Congratulations to you dear you're doing fine
In Rick Nelson's song "Congratulations," the singer expresses his awareness of his partner growing tired of him and her dishonesty. He acknowledges her intention to break his heart and relays his congratulations to her for succeeding. He indicates his understanding of her behavior and implies that she has made a fool out of him. The lyrics reveal his hurt, frustrations, and disappointment in the relationship.
When he passes her on the street, she seems uninterested in interacting with him, which further intensifies his hurt. As the song progresses, he sarcastically congratulates her for being the queen of misery and causing him sorrow. The lyrics communicate a sense of resignation and acceptance of the situation, which suggests that the relationship is coming to an end.
Overall, the lyrics of "Congratulations" are a mixture of emotions, including sadness, anger, and defeat. The singer acknowledges his pain while simultaneously calling out his partner's behavior and congratulating her for her success in breaking his heart.
Line by Line Meaning
I can tell that you're already growing tired of me
I can sense that you have lost interest in me and find me unappealing.
You are no part of me even started lying to me
You have started to distance yourself from me, even resorting to lying to avoid me.
If you started out to break this heart inside of me
If your intention all along was to hurt me deeply and cause emotional pain.
Congratulations to you dear you're doing fine
You have succeeded in your goal and have caused me much suffering, so congratulations to you.
I pass you on the street you don't speak to me
When we see each other in public, you ignore me and pretend like I am not there.
You just look at me then you walk away from me
You give me a cold stare and then walk away without acknowledging me further.
And if you started out to make a fool of me
If your objective was to make me look foolish or stupid.
Well you should be commanded for the sorrow you cause me
Well, you deserve recognition for the misery and pain that you have inflicted upon me.
How does it feel to be the Queen of Misery
Congratulations, you have become the ruler or leader of all things miserable and unhappy.
If you started out to break this heart inside of me
If destroying my heart and causing me great emotional turmoil was your plan.
Congratulations to you dear you're doing fine
Once again, congrats on the success of your mission to hurt me, you are doing an excellent job.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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