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.
Make Believe
Rick Nelson Lyrics
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I can say I'm glad that we're apart
I can tell my friends, I'm glad it's over now
But what will I tell my heart
I'll make believe, I don't think about you
Try to pretend we never met
But when I wake up, aw, in the mornin' now
I know how much I need you
And at times I almost cried
Makin' believe is not so easy
How long can I hold it inside
I'll make believe that I don't love you
And I never gave my heart away
But I know I'll never, aw, be the same dear
You're on my mind both night and day
I know how much I need you
And at times, I almost cried
Makin' believe is not so easy
How long can I hold it inside
I'll make believe that I don't love you
And I never gave my heart away
But I know I'll never, aw, be the same dear
You're on my mind both night and day
I think of you both night and day
You're on my mind both night and day
The lyrics to Rick Nelson's song Make Believe speak about the internal battle and struggle one goes through after a breakup. The singer tries to convince themselves and others around them that they don't miss their former partner, but in reality, they are struggling to come to terms with their feelings. The lyrics also talk about how making believe is not an easy task as the heart always knows the truth. The singer realizes that they need their former partner, but they are trying to hide their emotions and put up a façade of being fine without them.
The song portrays the universal idea of pretending to be okay after a breakup, but in reality, it's difficult to move on. The lyrics display the pain and agony of trying to hold back emotions, but the heart still yearns for the love that was once present. Rick Nelson's voice brings to life the emotional turmoil that one goes through after a breakup, and the lyrics showcase the struggle of trying to move on.
Overall, the lyrics to Make Believe are an honest portrayal of trying to pretend that everything is okay after a breakup, when it isn't. The song reminds us that it's okay to feel vulnerable and hurt after a relationship ends, and that it's okay to take the time to heal.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll make believe that I don't miss you
I'll pretend that I don't feel your absence
I can say I'm glad that we're apart
I can verbally express my happiness about our separation
I can tell my friends, I'm glad it's over now
I can convey to my friends that our relationship has ended, and I'm okay with it
But what will I tell my heart
But how will I calm the feelings of my heart?
I'll make believe, I don't think about you
I'll pretend that you don't cross my mind
Try to pretend we never met
Attempt to portray that we never came across each other
But when I wake up, aw, in the mornin' now
Nevertheless, when I wake up, I'm still overwhelmed in the morning
You know my pillow is soakin' wet
You know that my pillow is wet from tears I couldn't stop shedding
I know how much I need you
I understand how much I yearn for you
And at times I almost cried
And sometimes, I would like to cry
Makin' believe is not so easy
It's not as easy as it sounds to believe in something that's not real
How long can I hold it inside
How long will I suppress these emotions?
I'll make believe that I don't love you
I'll feign that I don't have romantic feelings for you
And I never gave my heart away
And I never confessed my feelings to you
But I know I'll never, aw, be the same dear
But I'm aware that I'm not the same person without you
You're on my mind both night and day
You are constantly in my mind throughout the day and night
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RIVERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind