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 Little Fool
Rick Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh
The Rick Nelson classic "Poor Little Fool" is a tale of love's folly, and the singer's regrets about falling in love with the wrong girl. In the opening lines, the singer notes that he used to be a player, toying with the hearts of the women he met. But when he met the object of this song, he knew he was bound to fall in love. The girl, however, played with him, teasing him with her carefree ways and devil-may-care attitude, even as she lied about her true feelings for him. The singer, for the first time in his life, gave his heart away, only to have it broken, as the girl left with the knowledge that she had won.
In the end, the singer laments his foolishness, acknowledging that he had played the game of love with other hearts himself, but never expected anyone else to play it with him. "Poor little fool" is a belated expression of empathy for all those he has hurt, and a final admission of his own lack of insight.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to play around with hearts that hastened at my call
I used to manipulate and control people who were easily enchanted by me
But when I met that little girl I knew that I would fall
But upon meeting this girl, I realized I was truly in love with her
Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh
She may have been foolish, but I was even more foolish to believe her and give her my heart
She played around and teased me with her carefree devil eyes
She flirted and taunted me with her mischievous gaze
She'd hold me close and kiss me but her heart was full of lies
She acted affectionate towards me, but in reality, she was deceitful and insincere
She told me how she cared for me and that we'd never part
She assured me of her love and commitment to me
And so for the very first time I gave away my heart
I trusted her enough to give her my heart, despite my past behavior of manipulating others
The next day she was gone and I knew she'd lied to me
The very next day, she vanished, and I came to realize she was dishonest with me
She left me with a broken heart and won her victory
She hurt me deeply, leaving me with a shattered heart, and got what she wanted
I'd played this game with other hearts but I never thought I'd see
I've toyed with other people's feelings before, but I never expected the same fate for myself
The day that someone else would play love's foolish game with me
To experience someone else playing with my emotions the way I've done to others in the past
Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh
The refrain is repeated to drive home the point that although the girl was foolish, the artist was even more foolish
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SHARON SHEELEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Adriano - Pedras Preciosas
Estes vocais são maravilhosos
Hmuaki Khiangte
Yeah,i love him
desidagoat
Fun fact, this was the first ever song ever to top the billboard hot 100
Julius Nepos
Yeah
Anton Malmquist
Great
John Smith
I don't think that makes sense lol
Wendy Johnson
I think that Ricky Nelson is the most underappreciated singers of the 20th century. He was a true talent and really was the best! Love him!
Fred Johnson
Hello👋👋👋👋
Darrell Somers
Correct !
Teresa d brown Brown
Agree