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.
Down Along the Bayou Country
Ricky Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down around New Orleans
You took my hand, you said your my man
We'll have a good life you and me
It was down along the bayou country
Down in the Cajun land
Momma said: son, you know before you're done
Then I heard that train whistle moanin'
It was rolling on down the line
I got thoughts to straighten out
Places to know about
I'll be home in no time
Then I hopped a train down in Lockport
I headed cross Hattiesburg
I think I knew then I wouldn't see you again
Goodbye was the last thing I heard
Then I met a man up in Greenville
He said he'd give me some real good advice
He said: you gotta get smart, I did
Here take this gun, and kid, remember to never look twice
Now living to me has meant heartache
Life was always something to use
As I look back again, I never could win
I guess I was put down here to lose
Now I'm alone and locked in Montgomery
You see I robbed a bank and shot a man
Their gonna hang me tomorrow
I wish I could borrow my life to live over again
The song "Down Along the Bayou Country" by Ricky Nelson is a tragic tale about a man's life journey. The story starts down in the bayou country, where a girl takes his hand and promises him a good life. But his mother warns him that he'll end up with a gun in his hand. Then, he leaves and hears a train whistle moaning as he heads down to Lockport and Hattiesburg. He realizes that he won't see the girl again and meets a man who advises him to be smart and gives him a gun.
However, life only brings him heartache, and he looks back to realize that he never could win. Now, he is alone and locked in Montgomery, having robbed a bank and shot a man, and is awaiting a death sentence. The lyrics paint a portrait of a man's regretful life, where he wishes he could borrow his life to live over again.
The song is a classic example of the blues genre, with its mournful melody and melancholic lyrics. Nelson's delivery is emotional and authentic, which adds depth and relatability to the song. The song's major themes of regret, loss, and tragedy make it a sentimental favorite, even today.
Line by Line Meaning
It was down along the bayou country
The story begins in the rural southern areas
Down around New Orleans
More specifically, in the city of New Orleans
You took my hand, you said your my man
The singer was in a relationship with someone who was devoted to them
We'll have a good life you and me
The partner believed they could build a good life together
Down in the Cajun land
Further down in the southern United States, in the Cajun areas
Momma said: son, you know before you're done
The singer's mother warned them about the potential dangers of their surroundings
You're gonna wind up with a gun in your hand
Specifically, the danger of being coerced into violence
Then I heard that train whistle moanin'
The artist hears a train, signaling change and departure
It was rolling on down the line
The train is moving forward and will continue to do so
I got thoughts to straighten out
The artist has some personal issues they need to work through
Places to know about
They also have a strong curiosity and desire to travel
I'll be home in no time
Despite these issues, the artist plans to return home soon
Then I hopped a train down in Lockport
To facilitate their travels, the singer jumps aboard a train in Lockport
I headed cross Hattiesburg
The train is headed toward Hattiesburg
I think I knew then I wouldn't see you again
The singer realizes they are leaving their partner for good
Goodbye was the last thing I heard
Their last interaction with their partner was saying goodbye
Then I met a man up in Greenville
The artist meets a new person in Greenville
He said he'd give me some real good advice
This person presents themselves as a source of wisdom
He said: you gotta get smart, I did
Their advice is related to learning how to survive in a harsh environment
Here take this gun, and kid, remember to never look twice
The person also gives the artist a gun and tells them to be unflinching
Now living to me has meant heartache
Years later, the artist reflects on their life and feels it has been full of pain
Life was always something to use
They see life as a tool to be manipulated for their purposes
As I look back again, I never could win
They have a sense of having lost everything they wanted in life
I guess I was put down here to lose
The artist feels that they were always destined to fail
Now I'm alone and locked in Montgomery
The story takes its darkest turn as the singer is in jail in Montgomery
You see I robbed a bank and shot a man
They explain the reason for their imprisonment
Their gonna hang me tomorrow
They know that their execution is imminent
I wish I could borrow my life to live over again
The story ends with the artist lamenting their choices and wishing they could start over
Contributed by Kaitlyn E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.