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.
Don't Leave Me This Way
Rick Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you went away I thought I would die
Oh baby don't leave me this way
You know how much I needed your touch,
Baby I loved you a little too much
Oh baby don't leave me this way
I thought you said our love was true,
But now you're gone and I am blue, oh what am I gonna do
I just can't see why you wanted to go,
You knew all along it hurt me so
Oh baby don't leave me this way
I thought you said our love was true...
Oh baby don't leave me this way.
In Rick Nelson's song "Don't Leave Me This Way," the lyrics express the pain and heartache felt by someone who has been left by their loved one. The song begins by highlighting the initial joy felt when the other person came into their life, and the desperation they now feel since they have gone away. The singer asks their former partner not to leave them in this state, highlighting just how much they need them and how deeply they feel about them.
The lyrics then go on to express the confusion and hurt felt by the singer, as they reflect on the promises made by their loved one and the seeming betrayal of those promises. They cannot understand why the other person would want to leave, particularly since they knew how much it would hurt the singer. The chorus repeats the plea for the other person not to leave, emphasizing just how much they still need them despite the pain caused.
Overall, the song is an emotional plea for reconciliation and a desire to hold on to a love that was once cherished. It speaks to the universal experiences of heartbreak and the deep emotions that come with it, making it a classic example of the power of love songs to connect with audiences.
Line by Line Meaning
When you came along oh happy was I,
I was overjoyed when you entered my life
When you went away I thought I would die
I was devastated when you left, it felt like my life was over
Oh baby don't leave me this way
Please don't leave me, I can't handle the pain of losing you
You know how much I needed your touch,
Your physical presence meant a lot to me
Baby I loved you a little too much
I may have been a little too invested in our relationship
Oh baby don't leave me this way
I can't bear the thought of you leaving me
I thought you said our love was true,
I believed that our love was genuine
You loved me and I loved you
We were both invested in each other and our relationship
But now you're gone and I am blue, oh what am I gonna do
Now that you've left, I feel sad and lost, unsure of how to move on
I just can't see why you wanted to go,
I don't understand why you felt it was necessary to leave
You knew all along it hurt me so
You were aware that your departure would cause me pain
Oh baby don't leave me this way
Please stay with me, I need you
I thought you said our love was true...
I had faith in our relationship and believed in our love
Oh baby don't leave me this way.
Please don't let our love come to an end, I can't handle it
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: PAUL MICHAEL BARRY, MARK TAYLOR, BRIAN RAWLING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind