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.
Here I Am
Rick Nelson Lyrics
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If you're searching for a true love well here I am
Oh I'll hold you day and night no I'll never let you out of my sight
If you're looking for a true love here I am
Have you ever been lonely have you ever ever felt real blue
Does your heart need that someone who is kind faithful and true
If you're looking for that someone here I am
If you're searching for an only one well here I am
If you're looking for a good love here I am hmm hmm here I am
The lyrics of Rick Nelson's song "Here I Am" express the desire and willingness of the singer to become someone's true love. The singer is presenting themselves as a potential partner for someone who is looking for a new love or a true love, promising to hold them day and night and never letting them out of sight. The lyrics imply a strong sense of commitment and devotion towards the other person, as well as a longing to be with someone who is kind, faithful and true.
The second stanza of the song creates a strong emotional connection with the listener, as the singer asks if they have ever been lonely or felt real blue. This line suggests that the singer understands the pain of loneliness and the need for a caring, faithful and loyal companion. The singer then reiterates their offer to be that person to fill the void in the listener's life, assuring them that they have never shared a true love and have never had a real love, which emphasizes their sincerity and honesty. The final line of the song, "If you're looking for a good love here I am", is a simple yet powerful statement that presents the singer as the solution to the listener's search for love.
Overall, the lyrics of "Here I Am" express a genuine desire to become someone's true love, offering a strong connection that stems from understanding and sincerity, rather than just empty promises.
Line by Line Meaning
If you're looking for a new love here I am
I am willing to be your new love, if that is what you are looking for.
If you're searching for a true love well here I am
I am willing to be your true love, if that is what you are searching for.
Oh I'll hold you day and night no I'll never let you out of my sight
I will always be with you and never let you go.
If you're looking for a true love here I am
Once again, I am willing to be your true love.
Have you ever been lonely have you ever ever felt real blue
Have you ever felt lonely or sad?
Does your heart need that someone who is kind faithful and true
Do you need someone who is kind, faithful, and true?
If you're looking for that someone here I am
If you are looking for that someone, I am here.
If you're searching for an only one well here I am
If you are searching for your one and only, I am here.
Oh I've never shared a true love and I've never ever had a real love
I have never experienced true love before, nor have I ever shared in someone else's true love.
If you're looking for a good love here I am hmm hmm here I am
If you're looking for someone to love and who will love you back, I am here and ready for you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES RYAN WUIHUN HO, JOHN LEGEND, STACY BARTHE, JESSE WOODARD, COREY GIBSON, JOI CAMPBELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind