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.
Summertime
Rick Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fish are jumpin' and the cotton is high
Oh! Your Daddy's rich and your Ma is good lookin'
So, hush little baby, don't you cry...
One of these mornin's you're gonna rise up singin'
Then you'll spread your wings, and you'll take to the sky
But 'till that mornin' there's a nothin' can harm you,
But 'till that mornin' there's a nothin' can harm you,
with Daddy and Mammy standin' by...
Standing by...
The lyrics of Summertime by Rick Nelson are quite straightforward and paint a picture of a lazy, carefree summer day in the countryside. The opening line says it all: "Summertime, and the livin' is easy." The singer sets the scene by describing the idyllic surroundings - the fish are jumping and the cotton is high, implying a time of plenty and leisure. The following line adds a touch of irony, as the singer also notes that the baby's parents are rich and good-looking, suggesting that life is especially easy for them. The closing line of the first verse, "So, hush little baby, don't you cry," reinforces the sense of tranquility and contentment.
The second verse of the song imagines a brighter future for the baby, one where they can "rise up singin'" and "take to the sky." However, until that day comes, there's nothing to worry about, as the baby's "Daddy and Mammy" will always be there to take care of them. In this way, the song reassures the listener that they are loved and protected, even in a world where things might not always be easy or predictable.
Overall, Summertime is a simple but effective song that captures the spirit of summer and the innocence of childhood. Its gentle melody and uplifting lyrics make it a popular choice for covers and adaptations in various genres, from jazz to pop to R&B.
Line by Line Meaning
Summertime, and the livin' is easy
It's summertime, and life is a breeze
Fish are jumpin' and the cotton is high
Nature is at its peak, with fish jumping and cotton growing tall
Oh! Your Daddy's rich and your Ma is good lookin'
You come from a privileged family with wealthy and attractive parents
So, hush little baby, don't you cry...
There's nothing for you to worry about, so don't cry
One of these mornin's you're gonna rise up singin'
At some point in the future, you'll wake up in a good mood and start singing
Then you'll spread your wings, and you'll take to the sky
You'll finally be able to live your dreams and soar like a bird
But 'till that mornin' there's a nothin' can harm you,
Until that moment comes, you have nothing to fear
with Daddy and Mammy standin' by...
Your parents will always be there to protect and support you
Standing by...
They will always be standing by your side
Contributed by Alex N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
MikeBlitzMag
A prime example of why Rick Nelson finished in first place (in a dead heat tie with Hank Williams) as Blitz Magazine's pick for Best Solo Artist of the 20th Century. He is greatly, greatly missed.
Señor Reasonable
By far one of the very best songs of 1962.
James Holder
who came to check this out while watching the Ritchie Blackmoore story??
Alan Husband
I did :-)
dee pee
ayuh !
matt cooper
@dee pee yep, me too!
Serhat Çevikel
Me too :)
Mahkan Yazdani
It's a catchy riff I must admit..
Miguel Dos Pachangas
I've heard this 15 times or so.
Love James and Ricky. Love this song, a definition of Americana that has rightly become a standard. James Burton and Ricky Nelson are pillars of American pop , and R & B themselves The riff works for the Blue Magoos song, which is way cool. The Am-G part of the chorus takes it to an interesting place. Kinda surprising this change isn't more utilized. It's realized to further potential by Purple, which defined their new direction of sonic bliss. It strikes me as forced here at best, as does the "Hey Joe" part as Ritchie puts it. ( I hear Memphis' opening lick; the Johnny Rivers version, more specifically.) The thing that strikes me about the 100 or so versions of Summertime I've heard, is how far that arrangement has been utterly stretched, virtually re-written, and given all sorts of ornate inflections. My biggest musical question, is how did Janis Joplins version get to where it is ?
Rodrigo Barrios
Beautiful comment.