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.
Poor Litte Fool
Rick Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That hastened at my call
But when I met that little girl
I knew that I would fall
Poor little fool, oh yeah
I was a fool, uh-huh
(Uh-huh, poor little fool)
She'd play around and tease me
With her carefree devil eyes
She'd hold me close and kiss me
But her heart was full of lies
Poor little fool, oh yeah
I was a fool, uh-huh
(Uh-huh, poor little fool)
(I was a fool, oh yeah)
She told me how she cared for me
And that we'd never part
And so for the very first time
I gave away my heart
Poor little fool, oh yeah
I was a fool, uh-huh
(Uh-huh, poor little fool)
(I was a fool, oh yeah)
The next day she was gone
And I knew she'd lied to me
She left me with a broken heart
And won her victory
Poor little fool, oh yeah
I was a fool, uh-huh
(Uh-huh, poor little fool)
(I was a fool, oh yeah)
Well, I played this game with other hearts
But I never thought I'd see
The day when someone else would play
Love's foolish game with me
Poor little fool, oh yeah
I was a fool, uh-huh
(Uh-huh, poor little fool)
(I was a fool, oh yeah)
Poor little fool, oh yeah
I was a fool, uh-huh
(Uh-huh, poor little fool)
(Poor little fool)
The above lyrics are from Rick Nelson's hit song "Poor Little Fool," which was released in 1958. The song talks about the singer's romantic relationship that has ended tragically. He used to be a player, playing around with different girls' hearts, but when he met this particular girl, he knew he was in love. Although the girl seemed to tease him with her devilish eyes, he thought she truly cared for him, so he gave her his heart. However, the next day, she was gone, leaving him with a broken heart. The song ends with him admitting that he played the same game with other hearts, but he never thought he would be the one to fall for it.
The lyrics convey the different emotional states that come with falling in love - excitement, fear, vulnerability, trust, betrayal, and heartbreak. The singer initially feels like a hero who can play with any heart he wants. However, when someone plays with his heart, he feels like a "poor little fool." The song's title itself is a self-depreciating statement that shows vulnerability and regret.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to play around with hearts
I used to manipulate people and their feelings
That hastened at my call
They were always ready to listen and obey me
But when I met that little girl
But when I met the girl that would change me
I knew that I would fall
I knew that I too would fall in love
She'd play around and tease me
She would flirt and toy with me
With her carefree devil eyes
With her innocent but mischievous look in her eyes
She'd hold me close and kiss me
She would get close and shower me with affection
But her heart was full of lies
But in reality, she was not sincere and was deceiving me
She told me how she cared for me
She made promises of love and care
And that we'd never part
And that we would never be separated
And so for the very first time
And so, for the first time ever
I gave away my heart
I gave all my love and affection to her
The next day she was gone
The very next day, she disappeared
And I knew she'd lied to me
And I realized she had lied to me
She left me with a broken heart
She left me with a wounded and shattered heart
And won her victory
And she got what she wanted from me
Well, I played this game with other hearts
I have played this game with many people before
But I never thought I'd see
But I never expected to experience
The day when someone else would play
The time when someone else would do the same thing to me
Love's foolish game with me
Play with my heart in the same cruel way
Poor little fool, oh yeah
The girl that fooled me
I was a fool, uh-huh
I was foolish to fall for her tricks
(Uh-huh, poor little fool)
(I was a fool, oh yeah)
(Poor little fool)
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Sharon Sheeley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Arianna's Channel
I used to play around with hearts that hastened at my call
But when I met that little girl I knew that I would fall
Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh
She played around and teased me with her carefree devil eyes
She'd hold me close and kiss me but her heart was full of lies
Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh
She told me how she cared for me and that we'd never part
And so for the very first time I gave away my heart
Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh
The next day she was gone and I knew she'd lied to me
She left me with a broken heart and won her victory
Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh
I'd played this game with other hearts but I never thought I'd see
The day that someone else would play love's foolish game with me
Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh
Levent Trolley
I used to play around with hearts
That hastened at my call
But when I met that little girl
I knew that I would fall
Poor little fool, oh yeah
I was a fool, uh huh
(Oh oh, poor little fool)
(I was a fool, oh yeah)
She played around and teased me
With her carefree devil eyes
She'd hold me close and kiss me
But her heart was full of lies
Poor little fool, oh yeah
I was a fool, uh huh
(Oh oh, poor little fool)
(I was a fool, oh yeah)
She told me how she cared for me
And that we'd never part
And so for the very first time
I gave away my heart
Poor little fool, oh yeah
I was a fool, uh huh
(Oh oh, poor little fool)
(I was a fool, oh yeah)
The next day she was gone
And I knew she'd lied to me
She left me with a broken heart
And won her victory
Poor little fool, oh yeah
I was a fool, uh huh
(Oh oh, poor little fool)
(I was a fool, oh yeah)
Well, I'd played this game with other hearts
But I never thought I'd see
The day that someone else would play
Love's foolish game with me
Poor little fool, oh yeah
I was a fool, uh huh
(Oh oh, poor little fool)
(I was a fool, oh yeah)
Poor little fool, oh yeah
I was a fool, uh huh
(Oh oh, poor little fool)
(Poor little fool)
Levent Trolley
I used to play around with hearts
That hastened at my call
But when I met that little girl
I knew that I would fall
Poor little fool, oh yeah
I was a fool, uh huh
(Oh oh, poor little fool)
(I was a fool, oh yeah)
She played around and teased me
With her carefree devil eyes
She'd hold me close and kiss me
But her heart was full of lies
Poor little fool, oh yeah
I was a fool, uh huh
(Oh oh, poor little fool)
(I was a fool, oh yeah)
She told me how she cared for me
And that we'd never part
And so for the very first time
I gave away my heart
Poor little fool, oh yeah
I was a fool, uh huh
(Oh oh, poor little fool)
(I was a fool, oh yeah)
The next day she was gone
And I knew she'd lied to me
She left me with a broken heart
And won her victory
Poor little fool, oh yeah
I was a fool, uh huh
(Oh oh, poor little fool)
(I was a fool, oh yeah)
Well, I'd played this game with other hearts
But I never thought I'd see
The day that someone else would play
Love's foolish game with me
Poor little fool, oh yeah
I was a fool, uh huh
(Oh oh, poor little fool)
(I was a fool, oh yeah)
Poor little fool, oh yeah
I was a fool, uh huh
(Oh oh, poor little fool)
(Poor little fool)
TFS
I used to play around with hearts that hastened at my call
But when I met that little girl I knew that I would fall
Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh
She played around and teased me with her carefree devil eyes
She'd hold me close and kiss me but her heart was full of lies
Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh
She told me how she cared for me and that we'd never part
And so for the very first time I gave away my heart
Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh
The next day she was gone and I knew she'd lied to me
She left me with a broken heart and won her victory
Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh
I'd played this game with other hearts but I never thought I'd see
The day that someone else would play love's foolish game with me
Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh
Justo Torres
I used to play around with hearts that hastened at my call
But when I met that little girl I knew
that I would fall Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh
(Uh huh, poor little fool I was a fool oh yeah)
She played around and teased me with her carefree devil eyes
She'd hold me close and kiss me but her heart was full of lies
Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh
(Uh huh, poor little fool I was a fool oh yeah)
She told me how she cared for me and that we'd never part
And so for the very first time I gave away my heart
Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh
(Uh huh, poor little fool I was a fool oh yeah)
The next day she was gone and I knew she'd lied to me
She left me with a broken heart and won her victory
Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh
(Uh huh, poor little fool I was a fool oh yeah)
I'd played this game with other hearts but I never thought I'd see
The day that someone else would play love's foolish game with me
Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh
(Uh huh, poor little fool I was a fool oh yeah)
Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh
dooie1959
I`m 75 now & I was just old enough to appreciate a talent like Ricky Nelson.
Average Asian
If my daughter brought home someone like Ricky Nelson, I'd actually be jealous with her.
Monsoon
I've got five daughters. If one of them brought home a Ricky nelson, I'd be jealous!
Roy Au Meuni
He's dead.
Veronica Wilson
He was notoriously gay and suffered a lot from being unable to be himself.
Jeff Collom
He’s dreamy 😆
Twinkle
..... He is the epitome of stunning! Yesss! xxxxxx
Mysterious J 123
I love classic songs like this because it tells a story.
Don't Shoot the Messenger
His voice is smooth as silk...
Robert Tanguay
God, what a song. Makes me feel like a teenager