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.
Alone
Ricky Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can see all the people somehow they're not the same
They're lost in the dreams in the schemes that my eyes couldn't see
The wishing wells the small hotels are what you left me
You said goodbye to me today you left me on my own
Someone's gotta help me find my way I'm standing here alone
I said please stay you laughed and walked away it's all over now
The smiling faces the warm embraces they're all in the past
Your sweet caress my happiness it just couldn't last
People say that I am just a fool that I should go back home
I just smile and say I'm doing fine I'm glad that I'm alone
I guess I'll go back home I'll always be alone
In the song Alone, Ricky Nelson talks about his loneliness and how he is struggling to come to terms with it. He is waiting for the sunrise, which symbolizes hope and optimism, but it never comes. This indicates that he has lost all hope of finding a way out of his loneliness. He then looks at the people around him but realizes that he can't connect with them as they are lost in their own dreams and schemes, which his eyes can't comprehend. The wishing wells and the small hotels in the lines "The wishing wells the small hotels are what you left me" symbolize the things he had hoped for and the memories he shared with his partner, but they are now gone.
He then talks about his partner leaving him and how it has left him feeling lost and in need of direction. He pleads for someone to help him find his way, but no one comes to his rescue. He begs his partner to stay, but she laughs it off and walks away, leaving him alone. He can't believe that she's really gone.
Nelson then reflects on the past and talks about the sweet moments he shared with his partner, including her sweet caresses and his happiness, but it couldn't last. People tell him to go back home, but he just smiles and says he's doing fine. He'd rather be alone than go back to the life he had before, which was unfulfilling.
The last line "I guess I'll go back home I'll always be alone" signifies that he has lost all hope of finding love again and has resigned to being alone for the rest of his life.
Line by Line Meaning
I've waited for the sunrise but it never came
I hoped for a better tomorrow but it never arrived.
I can see all the people somehow they're not the same
I see others moving on with their lives, but I am stuck in grief.
They're lost in the dreams in the schemes that my eyes couldn't see
Others are pursuing their own goals and aspirations that I couldn't understand or share.
The wishing wells the small hotels are what you left me
All that's left are memories of the happy times we spent together.
You said goodbye to me today you left me on my own
You abandoned me today, leaving me to face the world alone.
Someone's gotta help me find my way I'm standing here alone
I need help navigating this new chapter of my life, but I feel isolated.
I said please stay you laughed and walked away it's all over now
I begged you to reconsider, but you refused, and now it's too late.
I can't believe it I can't conceive it that you're gone somehow
I am struggling to accept that you're no longer a part of my life.
The smiling faces the warm embraces they're all in the past
The happy moments we shared are nothing but distant memories now.
Your sweet caress my happiness it just couldn't last
The joy of being with you was fleeting, and it's painful to think about.
People say that I am just a fool that I should go back home
Others think I am foolish to cling onto hope and that I should accept defeat and return to what's familiar.
I just smile and say I'm doing fine I'm glad that I'm alone
I put on a brave face and pretend that I'm content being on my own, but deep down, I am hurting.
I guess I'll go back home I'll always be alone
I am resigned to the fact that even if I return, nothing will be the same, and I will always be alone.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
thefabulousthomasj
Masterpiece!!! My brother had the "Country Fever" album back in 1967, and we played the devil out of it, and this was our favorite. Thank you for posting this, marieren. I'm adding it to my favorites. . .
Timothy Bradley
One of his best songs in the post Beatles period - sadly it didn't even get listed in his discography. I knew (and loved!) the song, when my dad gave me a DJ copy around 1966. This is why I know the song. It was on Decca records;.
sparkescadman
Rick was ahead of others -he was into country before any other rock guys (except maybe Lee Hazlewood) . (This was recorded in August 1966) Excellent !
Ellen Miller
Another example of what a great songwriter you were.What a talented man.
Rick Curtis
That picture at 0:29 of Rick and Tracy is so moving..just makes you want to hug her💞
hilde .emmerich
Best Country of Rick