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.
Hello Mary Lou
Rick Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Goodbye heart
Sweet Mary Lou
I'm so in love with you
I knew Mary Lou
We'd never part
So hello Mary Lou
You passed me by one sunny day
Flashed those big brown eyes my way
And ooh I wanted you forever more
Now I'm not one that gets around
I swear my feet stuck to the ground
And though I never did meet you before
I said "Hello Mary Lou
Goodbye heart
Sweet Mary Lou
I'm so in love with you"
I knew Mary Lou
We'd never part
So hello Mary Lou
Goodbye heart
I saw your lips I heard your voice
Believe me I just had no choice
Wild horses couldn't make me stay away
I thought about a moonlit night
Arms around you, good and tight
All I had to see for me to say
"Hey hey hello Mary Lou
Goodbye heart
Sweet Mary Lou
I'm so in love with you"
I knew Mary Lou
We'd never part
So, hello Mary Lou
Goodbye heart
So, hello Mary Lou
Goodbye heart
Yes, hello Mary Lou
Goodbye heart
"Hello Mary Lou" is a classic rock and roll song that tells the story of the singer falling head-over-heels for a beautiful girl named Mary Lou. The song begins with the singer announcing his love and bidding farewell to his heart, signifying that his emotional well-being is now completely intertwined with that of the girl he loves.
He then goes on to describe how he first saw Mary Lou, and how he was immediately smitten by her beauty and her gaze. The singer is not a man who is given to falling in love easily, but Mary Lou has captured his heart in a way that no one else ever has.
Throughout the song, the singer repeats the line "I knew Mary Lou, we'd never part", emphasizing his belief that their love is so strong that nothing could ever come between them. Even though he had never met her before, the singer feels as though he has known Mary Lou all his life, and he is consumed by his desire for her.
In the end, "Hello Mary Lou" is a simple, joyful tribute to the power of love and the way that it can sweep us off our feet and change our lives forever.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello Mary Lou
The singer is greeting Mary Lou, the person he loves.
Goodbye heart
The singer's heart is telling him that he is in love and it's time to say goodbye to his former heart that was not in love.
Sweet Mary Lou
The singer is showing affection towards Mary Lou.
I'm so in love with you
The singer is expressing how he feels about Mary Lou and what his heart is telling him.
I knew Mary Lou
The singer was familiar with Mary Lou before he met her in real life.
We'd never part
The singer feels that he and Mary Lou are meant to be together forever and they will never separate.
You passed me by one sunny day
Mary Lou crossed the singer's path on a sunny day and caught his attention.
Flashed those big brown eyes my way
Mary Lou made eye contact with the singer and she has big brown eyes.
And ooh I wanted you forever more
The singer fell in love with Mary Lou at first sight and wanted to be with her for the rest of his life.
Now I'm not one that gets around
The singer is not the type of person who flirts around with many people or has many relationships.
I swear my feet stuck to the ground
The singer was so captivated by Mary Lou that he felt like his feet were glued to the ground.
And though I never did meet you before
The singer had never met Mary Lou before this encounter.
I said 'Hello Mary Lou
The singer greeted Mary Lou when she caught his attention.
I saw your lips I heard your voice
The singer watched Mary Lou speak and was enamored by her lips and voice.
Believe me I just had no choice
The singer had no control over his feelings for Mary Lou.
Wild horses couldn't make me stay away
The singer was so in love with Mary Lou that nothing could keep him from pursuing her.
I thought about a moonlit night
The singer imagined a romantic moonlit night with Mary Lou.
Arms around you, good and tight
The singer imagined holding Mary Lou in a tight embrace.
All I had to see for me to say
The singer knew he loved Mary Lou just by looking at her.
'Hey hey hello Mary Lou
The singer greets Mary Lou again.
So, hello Mary Lou
The singer greets Mary Lou one final time.
Goodbye heart
The singer is saying goodbye to his old heart that didn't know love.
Lyrics © editionPlus Verlags GmbH, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cayet Mangiaracina, Gene Pitney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mls.us.y-ram4076
My name is Mary Louise, but most of the time i went by Mary. But on my sweet 16 birthday, which was on Valentine's Day, as I was headed for the school lunchroom, looking for my favorite place, I heard, (over the loud speaker) my favorite song, "Hello Mary Lou"!! What? Wow! I got so excited and happy, I wanted to just stop right there and dance to my song with this cool groovy beat. What a complete surprise this was. In fact I went so far as to think, what surprise is next? Am I going to look around and see Ricky Nelson himself, singing his #1 song to me on this special birthday? O to be young again. And to hear those songs that will never grow old. I may, but they never will. Yes Ricky Nelson, was and still is my all time favorite singer. Thanks for letting me share this special moment in my life. 💃
@linwoodkent1246
@mls.us.y-ram4076 Happy Birthday Mary Lou (ise) and God Bless
@ivanmay7890
I grew up with a grandmother who listened religiously to Ricky Nelson, and as such Hello Mary Lou was constantly playing on the record player.
@paulrosebush9137
Lucky you! Raised right. ;)
@samallen83
Played this at my moms funeral since her name was Mary Lou. Rip mom 1947-2018
@rhondaboncutter5812
I am sure she heard it! I love this music! Born in early 50's! Loved all the years of music I got to enjoy and still do! But love the oldies best!
@berniecioffoletti3398
My deepest sympathies. 🙏
@mikehebert6721
Bernard Cioffoletti, Jr. Condolences sir
@NMB1984
❤❤❤
@bobrichie8782
Good son, prayers on loss