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 the Line
Ricky Nelson Lyrics
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I'm gonna get some real gone love that will drive the cool cat wild
I want to move, move on down the line
Yeah I want to get some loving, love that's truly fine
Yeah I want to move on down the line, I want to get some love that's truly fine
She'll be cool and do me right, she'll be cool and twice as gone
We're gonna roll on, roll on down the line, oh do right, do right all the time
Uh I'm gonna show it ain't so hot, I'm gonna get what you ain't got
She'll be cool and do me right, she'll be cool and twice as gone
We're gonna roll on, roll on down the line, yeah I'm gonna do right, do right all the time
Well I want to move on down the line...
The lyrics of Ricky Nelson's "Down the Line" depict the singer's desire for a new love interest who possesses a "cool" personality and the ability to love him "right" and "twice as gone." To Ricky, his current companion does not have the necessary qualities, prompting him to seek out someone new who can provide him with the love that he craves. The lyrics suggest a desire for a relationship that is filled with passion and fervor, one that can keep up with Ricky's fast-paced lifestyle.
The repetition of the phrase "move on down the line" carries a sense of restlessness and a constant search for something better. Ricky's desire for "real gone love" and love that is "truly fine" conveys an insatiable desire for a deeper connection with someone. In essence, the song portrays the universal theme of the desire for true love and companionship that many people feel.
Line by Line Meaning
Well if you can't be my lovin' baby, you ain't got the style
If you can't love me back the same way I love you, then you are not worthy of me
I'm gonna get some real gone love that will drive the cool cat wild
I will find someone who loves me back just as much and we will have a wild and crazy love
I want to move, move on down the line
I want to move on from this one-sided love and find someone new
Yeah I want to get some loving, love that's truly fine
I want to find a love that is not only reciprocated, but is also genuine and fulfilling
She'll be cool and do me right, she'll be cool and twice as gone
I want a partner who is not only cool and collected, but also crazy for me and willing to do anything to make me happy
We're gonna roll on, roll on down the line, oh do right, do right all the time
We will keep moving forward in our love and always do what is right for each other
Uh I'm gonna show it ain't so hot, I'm gonna get what you ain't got
I will prove that I am better off without you and find someone who loves me more than you ever did
Well I want to move on down the line...
I want to leave this one-sided love behind and find a love that is true and fulfilling
Lyrics © Roy Orbison Music Company , Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROY ORBISON
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