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.
Don't Leave Me This Way
Ricky Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you went away I thought I would die
Oh baby don't leave me this way
You know how much I needed your touch,
Baby I loved you a little too much
Oh baby don't leave me this way
I thought you said our love was true,
But now you're gone and I am blue, oh what am I gonna do
I just can't see why you wanted to go,
You knew all along it hurt me so
Oh baby don't leave me this way
I thought you said our love was true...
Oh baby don't leave me this way.
The Ricky Nelson song "Don't Leave Me This Way" is a plea for a lover not to leave. The lyrics are heartfelt and speak to the desperation that comes when someone you love is leaving you. The first verse describes how happy the singer was when they were together and how devastated they are now that they are alone. The chorus is a plea for the lover not to go, as they know how much they need their touch and they loved them too much. The second verse is a lament about how the lover claimed their love was true, but now they are gone and the singer is blue. They can't understand why the lover would want to leave when they knew how much it hurt them.
One interpretation of the song is that it is about a breakup, but it could also be interpreted as a plea to not leave for any reason, such as moving away or a long-distance relationship. The lyrics speak to the universal feeling of not wanting to be alone and the need for love and companionship. The song's melody is catchy and the instrumentation is simple, which helps to convey the emotion in the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
When you came along oh happy was I,
I was very happy when you came into my life.
When you went away I thought I would die
I was extremely sad and felt like I couldn't go on when you left me.
Oh baby don't leave me this way
Please don't leave me feeling so lonely and helpless.
You know how much I needed your touch,
I was very dependent on your love and affection.
Baby I loved you a little too much
Maybe my love for you was too strong and that's why it's so hard to let you go.
I thought you said our love was true,
I believed that our love was strong and real.
You loved me and I loved you
We had a mutual love for each other.
But now you're gone and I am blue, oh what am I gonna do
I am very sad and don't know how to move forward without you.
I just can't see why you wanted to go,
I don't understand the reason for you leaving me.
You knew all along it hurt me so
You were aware of the pain I would feel when you left.
Oh baby don't leave me this way
Please don't leave me feeling so lost and alone.
I thought you said our love was true...
I thought we had a deep and meaningful connection.
Oh baby don't leave me this way.
Please don't leave me feeling so empty and broken-hearted.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: PAUL MICHAEL BARRY, MARK TAYLOR, BRIAN RAWLING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind