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.
Georgia On My Mind
Rick Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind
I said Georgia, woh Georgia, a song of you
Comes as sweet and clear like moonlight through the pines
Other arms reach out to me
Other eyes smile tenderly
Still in peacefull dreams I see
Georga, I said Georgia, no peace I find
Just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind
Other arms reach out to me
Other eyes smile tenderly
Still in peacefull dreams I see
The road leads back to you
Woh yeah Georgia, I said Georgia, no peace I find
Just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind
I said an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind
"Georgia on My Mind" is a song about homesickness, nostalgia, and longing for a place called Georgia. It's a soulful ballad with a wistful melody that evokes feelings of melancholy and yearning. The song starts by talking about how the singer can't stop thinking about Georgia, where he comes from, and how an old sweet song keeps playing on his mind. The song continues with the lyrics describing how other arms and eyes reach out to him, but nothing seems to bring him peace, as he is constantly reminded of his home in Georgia.
The chorus further emphasizes the singer's longing for Georgia, and how nothing seems to be able to take his mind away from the memories of his hometown. The song ends on a note of resignation, with the singer acknowledging that he is caught in a state of nostalgia and can't escape the pull of the memories that Georgia brings.
Line by Line Meaning
Georgia, woh Georgia, the whole day through
Georgia stays on my mind all day
Just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind
The memory of Georgia is like a sweet old song that keeps playing in my head
I said Georgia, woh Georgia, a song of you
I speak of Georgia like it's a song that represents you
Comes as sweet and clear like moonlight through the pines
The thought of you comes to me as sweet and clear as moonlight shining through the pine trees
Other arms reach out to me
Other people try to show me love
Other eyes smile tenderly
Others look at me with love and tenderness
Still in peaceful dreams I see
Even in my peaceful dreams
The road leads back to you
My mind leads me back to thoughts of you
Georgia, I said Georgia, no peace I find
I cannot find peace because I keep thinking about Georgia
Woh yeah Georgia, I said Georgia, no peace I find
Again, I cannot find peace because Georgia is always on my mind
Just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind
The sweet old song of memories keeps Georgia in my thoughts
Contributed by Xavier K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Dave B Official
Bloody bloody bloody brilliant. The man