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.
Today's Teardrops
Rick Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tomorrow's rainbows I will share, share with you
So dry your eyes little girl dry your eyes
And we're gonna see skies of blue
Had a tough time gettin' started
Maybe just a little down hearted
All you got to do is count to ten
Today's teardrops are tomorrow's rainbows and
Tomorrow's rainbows I will share, share with you
So dry your eyes little girl dry your eyes
And we're gonna see skies of blue
Gonna be just love and gladness
Don't wanna hear nothing bout sadness
Come a little closer come to me
With each kiss you're gonna see
In Rick Nelson's song, "Today's Teardrops," the artist is telling a little girl who seems to be sad that there's no need to be disheartened because today's sorrow will lead to joy tomorrow. He encourages her to dry her eyes, have hope, and that they will both share in the joy that is soon to come. He tries to lift her spirits by telling her that they will soon experience love, gladness and beautiful blue skies. The artist assures her that all she needs to do is count to ten, and she will feel better, and maybe even smile.
The lyrics of the song contain an uplifting message that tomorrow's fortunes can change, and the things we see as negative today, can be the blessings that are tomorrow's bright spots. The song's upbeat melody and positive lyrics reinforce that message, and the chipper rhythm conveys a sense of hope and encouragement that can motivate the listener to choose optimism and trust that good things are on the way.
Line by Line Meaning
Today's teardrops are tomorrow's rainbows and
The sadness and pain that you are experiencing today will eventually lead you to happiness tomorrow. There is always a silver lining in every storm.
Tomorrow's rainbows I will share, share with you
Once the storm has passed and you have found happiness, I will be there to share it with you. We will enjoy the good times together.
So dry your eyes little girl dry your eyes
Stop crying and try to be strong. Keep your head up and look forward to a brighter future.
And we're gonna see skies of blue
The future is bright and full of possibilities. We will overcome the obstacles and find happiness together.
Had a tough time gettin' started
Sometimes it's difficult to find the motivation and drive to keep going, especially when times are tough.
Maybe just a little down hearted
Feeling sad and defeated is a normal part of life. It's okay to feel downhearted sometimes.
All you got to do is count to ten
Take a deep breath and try to clear your mind. Relax and focus on the good things in life. Everything will be okay.
Maybe you'd be smiling when
Hopefully, when you take a step back and try to look at things in a different light, you will find a reason to smile again.
Gonna be just love and gladness
The future is full of love and happiness. We will create the life we want together and enjoy every moment.
Don't wanna hear nothing bout sadness
Let's focus on the good and positive things in life. We don’t want to dwell on sadness and negativity.
Come a little closer come to me
Let's be close together and support each other. We will lean on each other for strength and love.
With each kiss you're gonna see
Each loving moment we share will brighten your day and bring us closer together. Our love will help us overcome any challenges we may face.
Contributed by Luke W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.