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.
Bye Bye Love
Ricky Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bye-bye, happiness
Hello, loneliness
I think I'm gonna cry
Bye bye, love
Bye bye, sweet caress
Hello, emptiness
I feel like I could die
There goes my baby with someone new
I sure am happy, I sure am blue
She was my baby 'til he stepped in
Goodbye to romance that might have been
Bye-bye, love
Bye-bye, happiness
Hello, loneliness
I think I'm gonna cry
Bye bye, love
Bye bye, sweet caress
Hello, emptiness
I feel like I could die
Bye-bye, my love, goodbye
I'm through with romance, I'm through with love
I'm through with counting the stars above
And here's the reason that I'm so free
My lovin' baby is through with me
Bye-bye, love
Bye-bye, happiness
Hello, loneliness
I think I'm gonna cry
Bye bye, love
Bye bye, sweet caress
Hello, emptiness
I feel like I could die
Bye-bye, my love, goodbye
Bye-bye, my love, goodbye
Bye-bye, my love, goodbye
Bye-bye, my love, goodbye
The lyrics to Ricky Nelson's "Bye Bye Love" is a poignant reflection of a person’s heartbreak and devastation after a relationship ends. With the words "Bye-bye, love" and "Bye-bye, happiness," the singer is acknowledging that he has lost something very important in his life. He goes on to speak to his feelings of loneliness, emptiness, and even death. The repetition of the line "Hello, loneliness" reinforces his emotional state and emphasizes the impact of the breakup. The second stanza speaks to a sense of betrayal with the new person who has taken his lover away - "There goes my baby with someone new / I sure am happy, I sure am blue."
The third stanza shows the singer's acceptance of the end of his romantic life, "I'm through with romance, I'm through with love / I'm through with counting the stars above." He has come to terms with the fact that love has ended for him and is available to him no longer. The final stanzas are a repeated chorus and serves to reinforce the sense of loss and yearning for what is past. The final line of the song - "Bye-bye, my love, goodbye" - is a final farewell to the previous relationship, officially ending his time with his lover.
Line by Line Meaning
Bye-bye, love
Farewell to affection and devotion
Bye-bye, happiness
Farewell to joy and contentment
Hello, loneliness
Introduction of isolation and emptiness
I think I'm gonna cry
Feeling overwhelmed with sadness and emotion
Bye bye, sweet caress
Farewell to gentle touches and loving care
Hello, emptiness
Introduction of a void that nothing can fill
I feel like I could die
Feeling consumed by despair and hopelessness
Bye-bye, my love, goodbye
Saying farewell to someone who held great significance and importance
There goes my baby with someone new
Seeing the person you love move on with another
I sure am happy, I sure am blue
Feeling both glad and saddened by the situation
She was my baby 'til he stepped in
Believing that a third party is the reason for the end of your relationship
Goodbye to romance that might have been
Saying farewell to a love story that could have been but never was
I'm through with romance, I'm through with love
Giving up on the idea of affection and passion
I'm through with counting the stars above
No longer having hope or longing for something better
And here's the reason that I'm so free
Finding release and relief from what held you back
My lovin' baby is through with me
The person who was your world has chosen to move on
Bye-bye, my love, goodbye
Saying farewell again to the one who's gone
Contributed by Camilla E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Roddy A
Bye bye love
Bye bye happiness
Hello loneliness
I think i' m gonna cry
Bye bye love
Bye bye sweet caress
Hello emptiness
I feel like I could die
Bye bye, my love, goodbye
There goes my baby with someone new
She sure is happy, I sure am blue
She was my baby 'til he stepped in
Goodbye to romance that might have been
Bye-bye love
Bye-bye happiness
Hello loneliness
I think I'm gonna cry
Bye bye, love
Bye bye, sweet caress
Hello emptiness
I feel like I could die
Bye-bye my love goodbye
I'm through with romance, I'm through with love
I'm through with counting the stars above
And here's the reason that I'm so free
My lovin' baby is through with me
Bye-bye love
Bye-bye happiness
Hello loneliness
I think I'm gonna cry
Bye bye love
Bye bye sweet caress
Hello emptiness
I feel like I could die
Bye-bye, my love, goodbye
Bye-bye, my love, goodbye
Bye-bye, my love, goodbye
Bye-bye, my love, goodbye
Татьяна Кирпиченкова
Какой же он суперский, утонченный. Голос, манеры все шикарно. Я его раньше не знала, спасибо ютубу.
Tango Bango
Hands down...Rick was one of the best looking guys ever to walk this earth. 🥴
Davo GT
i'm 24 but i sure wish these songs can be played more regularly now.... truly awe inspiring music... i've finally found all his hits
Tyler Sparks
so catchy! 50s and 60s will always be my favorite
Rosemary Hobbs
I remember watching the t v show as a young girl l fell in love
Roddy A
Bye bye love
Bye bye happiness
Hello loneliness
I think i' m gonna cry
Bye bye love
Bye bye sweet caress
Hello emptiness
I feel like I could die
Bye bye, my love, goodbye
There goes my baby with someone new
She sure is happy, I sure am blue
She was my baby 'til he stepped in
Goodbye to romance that might have been
Bye-bye love
Bye-bye happiness
Hello loneliness
I think I'm gonna cry
Bye bye, love
Bye bye, sweet caress
Hello emptiness
I feel like I could die
Bye-bye my love goodbye
I'm through with romance, I'm through with love
I'm through with counting the stars above
And here's the reason that I'm so free
My lovin' baby is through with me
Bye-bye love
Bye-bye happiness
Hello loneliness
I think I'm gonna cry
Bye bye love
Bye bye sweet caress
Hello emptiness
I feel like I could die
Bye-bye, my love, goodbye
Bye-bye, my love, goodbye
Bye-bye, my love, goodbye
Bye-bye, my love, goodbye
owensclock
Ricky first sang on his parents' TV show in the spring of 1957 he covered Fat's Domino's "I'm Walkin." The Everly Brothers' Bye Bye Love" first charted at about the same time. Ricky is backed here by the Four Preps in an Ozzie and Harriet episode that aired a bit later in 1957. (Not 1956)
anthony belcher
Awesome song
Kyara
I do love the Everly Brothers, but I'm a devout fan of Ricky Nelson. I wish I were born in the '50s instead of '92. Awesome music. :D Really love Freddie Mercury more for singing these in concerts and familiarizing me with this music.
WALRU11
Roy Orbison (whose immobile style of singing, Nelson seemed to mimic at this early stage of his career) once commented to his fellow Sun Records artists that "Ricky Nelson learned how to sing while producing million-selling records." Nelson's fresh good looks & weekly TV show made him an instant rock 'n roll star even before he learned his craft, but he did eventually produce some memorable recordings. At this time, his theme song seemed to be his hit record, "Teenage Idol."