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 (remas
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 need your touch
Maybe I love 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 would hurt me so
Oh baby, don't leave me this way
I thought you said our love was true
That you love me and I love you
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 would hurt me so
Oh baby, don't leave me this way
Oh baby, don't leave me this way
Ricky Nelson's song "Don't Leave Me This Way" is a soulful plea to a lover not to leave, sung with a tender and aching delivery. The opening verses describe the change in emotions the singer of the song experiences with the arrival and departure of the lover -- from happiness to despair. The chorus reinforces the message that the singer desperately needs the touch of the person he loves, and begs for them not to leave. The lyrics convey a sense of pain and confusion about why the lover has left and a yearning for their return.
In the second verse, the lyrics become more focused on the emotional pain the singer feels due to the loss of their lover. The lyrics are reflective and seem to be asking the lover to reconsider their decision to leave. The singer speaks directly to the lover, questioning their previous expressions of love and the sudden change in their feelings. The bridge is a direct appeal to the lover's emotions, with the singer asking "what am I gonna do?" if the lover doesn't come back, emphasizing the depth of his pain and the seriousness of the situation.
The song's simplicity and directness are part of its appeal, making it easy to relate to the powerful emotions conveyed in the lyrics. The melody is catchy, and Nelson's soulful voice adds to the emotional intensity of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
When you came along, oh happy was I
I was overjoyed when you entered my life
When you went away, I thought I would die
Your absence made me feel like I couldn't go on
Oh baby, don't leave me this way
I'm begging you not to leave me
You know how much I need your touch
I rely on your affection to feel complete
Maybe I love you a little too much
Perhaps my feelings for you are too intense
I thought you said our love was true
That you love me and I love you
But now you're gone and I am blue
Oh, what am I gonna do?
You told me our love was real and we both felt the same, but now you've left me feeling sad and lost
I just can't see why you wanted to go
You knew all along it would hurt me so
Oh baby, don't leave me this way
I don't understand why you would want to leave when you knew it would cause me so much pain
Oh baby, don't leave me this way
Please don't leave me alone
Contributed by Samantha H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.