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.
Excuse Me Baby
Ricky Nelson Lyrics
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Excuse me baby, if I'm talkin' out of line
Well the way you talk and the way you twist around
You've got me lookin' and I just can't make a sound
Excuse me baby, but you're lookin' good to me
Hey hey sweet thing, I don't your name
I love you pretty baby, I hope you feel the same
Well come on baby, don't you dare let me down
Excuse me baby, turn those pretty eyes my way
Yeah if I could hold you honey, I'd mould you in my arms like clay
I'd never ever let you out of my sight
Come mornin', noon, evenin', daylight or night
Excuse me baby, that's how I'm feelin', wrong or right
In Ricky Nelson's song Excuse Me Baby, the singer is expressing his immediate attraction to a woman he sees across the room. He starts by apologizing for potentially being too forward, acknowledging that she is looking "mighty fine." The way she talks and moves has caught his attention and left him speechless. Despite not knowing her name, he confesses his love for her and hopes that she feels the same. He then goes on to express how he wants to hold and never let her go, emphasizing that he feels this way whether it's day or night. Overall, the lyrics portray a desire for instant connection and intimacy with someone who sparks a strong physical and emotional attraction.
Line by Line Meaning
Excuse me baby, but you're looking mighty fine
The singer sees the listener and believes that they are quite attractive
Excuse me baby, if I'm talkin' out of line
The singer is worried about coming across as rude or inappropriate
Well the way you talk and the way you twist around
The listener's mannerisms have caught the singer's attention
You've got me lookin' and I just can't make a sound
The artist is so captivated by the listener that they are unable to speak
Excuse me baby, but you're lookin' good to me
The artist feels strongly that the listener is attractive and wants to express that sentiment
Hey hey sweet thing, I don't your name
The singer is addressing the listener affectionately but does not know their name
I love you pretty baby, I hope you feel the same
The singer has feelings for the listener and hopes that those feelings are reciprocated
When the rightime comes and I want you around
The artist looks forward to spending more time with the listener in the future
Well come on baby, don't you dare let me down
The artist is hoping that the listener will not disappoint them in the future
Excuse me baby, turn those pretty eyes my way
The artist wants the listener to pay attention to them
Yeah if I could hold you honey, I'd mould you in my arms like clay
The singer desires physical closeness with the listener
I'd never ever let you out of my sight
The artist wants to keep the listener close to them at all times
Come mornin', noon, evenin', daylight or night
The singer wants to spend time with the listener throughout the day and night
Excuse me baby, that's how I'm feelin', wrong or right
The singer acknowledges that their feelings may be seen as inappropriate or misguided, but they want to express them anyway
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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