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.
Am I Blue
Ricky Nelson Lyrics
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Waiting on the weary shore
I'm just a woman who's only human
One you should feel sorry for
It was a morning, long before dawn
Without a warning I found he was gone
How could he do it, why should he do it
Am I blue, am I blue
Ain't these tears in these eyes telling you
How can you ask me am I blue
Why, wouldn't you be too
If each plan with your man
Done fell through
There was a time
When I was his only one
But now I'm the sad and lonely one...lonely
Was I gay, until today
Now he's gone, and we're through
Am I blue
The lyrics to Ricky Nelson's song "Am I Blue" narrate a story of a lonely woman on the shore, waiting for her man, who suddenly disappears in the early morning. The woman feels devastated, questioning why and how he could do such a cruel thing to her. The lyrics display the deep emotional turmoil of a woman left alone, with no explanation or closure. The questions "am I blue" and "wouldn't you be too" reflect the universal nature of heartbreak and the emotions that come with it. The words convey the pain of a woman who thought she had it all, being left behind with no clear prospects for the future.
Overall, the lyrics portray the pain and loneliness of lost love, especially when it happens without warning or reason. The song's relatability and emotional depth are what have made it a classic for people of all ages and backgrounds.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm just a woman, a lonely woman
I am a woman who is feeling lonely and isolated.
Waiting on the weary shore
I am waiting for someone who seems to have no intention of showing up.
I'm just a woman who's only human
I am simply a human being who has emotions and can feel pain.
One you should feel sorry for
I am in a situation that deserves sympathy and understanding.
It was a morning, long before dawn
It was early in the day, before the sun had risen.
Without a warning I found he was gone
He left without telling me, and I was shocked to discover he was gone.
How could he do it, why should he do it
I am wondering why he left me, and what I might have done to deserve it.
He never done it before
He has never left me like this before, and I am confused and upset by his sudden departure.
Am I blue, am I blue
Am I feeling sad and depressed, am I downhearted and gloomy?
Ain't these tears in these eyes telling you
Isn't it obvious from the tears in my eyes that I am feeling sad and unhappy?
How can you ask me am I blue
It seems insensitive to ask me if I am feeling sad when it is so obvious that I am.
Why, wouldn't you be too
Wouldn't you also feel sad and depressed if you were in my shoes?
If each plan with your man
If every plan you made with the person you loved fell through,
Done fell through
and nothing worked out the way you had hoped or planned,
There was a time
There was a point in the past when everything seemed perfect,
When I was his only one
When he loved only me and was devoted to me,
But now I'm the sad and lonely one
But now I am alone and feeling very sad and unhappy.
Was I gay, until today
Was I happy and euphoric, full of joy and contentment, until today?
Now he's gone, and we're through
Now he has left me, and we are no longer together,
Am I blue
Now I am feeling sad and unhappy, without him by my side.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GRANT CLARKE, HARRY AKST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind