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.
Baby You Don't Know
Ricky Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby you don't know pain and misery
Well the very thought of knowing that you have been untrue
Baby you don't know what you put me through
Baby you don't know all the tears I cry
Baby you don't care how many times you lie
Can't you see how much I love you, can't you see how much I care
Baby you don't know how I feel inside
I got an aching heart, that I cannot hide
Well the news about your new love is spreading all over town
Baby you don't know how you put me down
The above lyrics from Ricky Nelson's song "Baby You Don't Know" express the pain and heartbreak that the singer is experiencing as a result of their lover's infidelity. The first verse describes the singer's feelings of betrayal upon discovering that their lover has been unfaithful. The second verse highlights the lover's disregard for the singer's feelings and the impact that their lies have had on the relationship. The third verse emphasizes the depth of the singer's love and the difficulty they face in coping with the news of their lover's new relationship.
Overall, the song serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of cheating and the potential for pain that it can cause. The lyrics are relatable and capture the universal experience of heartbreak and betrayal. Ricky Nelson's vocal performance adds an additional layer of emotion to the song, making it an enduring classic that continues to resonate with listeners today.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby you don't know what you're doing to me
You're unaware of what you're causing me
Baby you don't know pain and misery
You're unaware of the pain and agony I'm facing because of you
Well the very thought of knowing that you have been untrue
The mere thought of you being unfaithful is unbearable
Baby you don't know what you put me through
You're unaware of how much you're hurting me
Baby you don't know all the tears I cry
You're unaware of how much I weep because of you
Baby you don't care how many times you lie
You're unconcerned about the number of times you deceive me
Can't you see how much I love you, can't you see how much I care
You fail to notice the degree of my affection for you
Baby you don't know and it's just not fair
The fact that you're oblivious is unjust
Baby you don't know how I feel inside
You're unaware of the emotions I'm going through
I got an aching heart, that I cannot hide
I'm carrying a painful heartache that I cannot conceal
Well the news about your new love is spreading all over town
The information about your new lover is becoming public knowledge
Baby you don't know how you put me down
You're unaware of how low you've made me feel
Contributed by Makayla O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Otmar Müller
Das ist wahrlich ein Genuss!
Chase the Nerd
O dislikes at the time of this comment.