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.
Are You Really Real
Ricky Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you feel the same thing
That I do girl when I touch you girl'
Am I just a fool to think
That you could ever love me
Like I love you, I really do'
And tell you that I love you girl
It's a lonely world
Please don't walk away
There's so much I meant to say
Thought you'd like to know
I love you so
Are you really mine?
Am I just someone for you
To pass the time away
Just another day'
Are you really real?
Do you feel the same thing
That I do girl when I touch you girl'
The lyrics to Ricky Nelson’s song “Are You Really Real” express feelings of doubt and insecurity in a relationship. The singer questions if his partner truly reciprocates his feelings of love and if their relationship is genuine. He wonders if he is just fooling himself by thinking that the love between them is real. Despite his doubts, the singer is still deeply in love with his partner and hopes that they feel the same.
The lyrics also reflect a sense of loneliness and isolation that the singer feels. He declares that the world is a lonely place and that his partner is the one person who he can turn to for love and support. He pleads with her to stay and reassures her of his love for her. The lyrics are poignant and heartfelt, capturing the universal emotions of love, doubt, and fear of rejection.
Overall, “Are You Really Real” is a timeless classic that speaks to the human experience. The raw emotions expressed in the lyrics and the soulful melody make it a favorite among fans of rock and roll and ballads.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you really real'
I am questioning if you are truly real, if my feelings towards you are genuine and if you feel anything for me in the same way.
Do you feel the same thing
That I do girl when I touch you girl'
I am wondering if you experience the same emotions as I do whenever I physically touch you, if there is any reciprocal attraction.
Am I just a fool to think
That you could ever love me
Like I love you, I really do'
I am reflecting on whether it's foolish of me to believe that you could ever love me as much as I love you, and if it's truly possible for you to reciprocate my strong feelings.
I walk in the room, I speak to you
And tell you that I love you girl
It's a lonely world
I express my affection towards you as soon as I see you, but it's still difficult for me because the world seems bleak and desolate without you by my side.
Please don't walk away
There's so much I meant to say
Thought you'd like to know
I love you so
I plead with you not to leave because there are many things that I have been meaning to tell you, and I want you to know that I am deeply in love with you.
Are you really mine?
Am I just someone for you
To pass the time away
Just another day'
I am wondering if you truly belong to me or if I am simply someone you spend time with to fill up your day, a mere temporary companion.
Are you really real?
Do you feel the same thing
That I do girl when I touch you girl'
I am reiterating my doubts about your authenticity, questioning if you truly share the same emotions and reactions as I do when we are physically intimate.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind