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.
Have I Told You Lately That I
Ricky Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Could I tell you once again somehow
Have I told, with all my heart and soul how I adore you
Well darlin' I'm tellin' you now.
This heart would break in two if you refuse me
I'm no good without you anyhow
Dear have I told you lately that I love you
Well darlin' I'm tellin' you now.
Have I told you lately that I miss you
When the stars are shinin' in the sky
Have I told you why the nights are long when you're not with me
Well darlin' I'm tellin' you now
This heart would break in two if you refuse me
I'm no good without you anyhow
Dear have I told you lately that I love you
Well darlin' I'm tellin' you now.
Have I told you lately when I'm sleepin'
Every dream I dream is you somehow
Have I told you who I'd like to share my love forever
Well darlin' I'm telling you now
This heart would break in two if you refuse me
I'm no good without you anyhow
Dear have I told you lately that I love you
Well darlin' I'm tellin' you now.
Ricky Nelson's song "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You" is a classic love song that expresses affection and devotion. The lyrics are straightforward and honest, conveying a message of love that is simple yet powerful. The singer asks his love interest if he has told her lately that he loves her, and he goes on to express how much he adores her with all his heart and soul. He then tells her that his heart would break in two if she refused him, reminding her how much he needs her.
The second stanza continues with the same themes of missing the person he loves and dreaming about her when he is sleeping. The singer tells her how the nights are long without her and reassures her that every dream he has is of her. He then expresses his desire to share his love with her forever and ends with the same statement that his heart would break in two if she refused him. The song is a beautiful expression of love, and the sincerity of the lyrics evokes a feeling of warmth and tenderness.
Line by Line Meaning
Have I told you lately that I love you
Have I expressed my love for you recently?
Could I tell you once again somehow
May I express my love for you once again in some way?
Have I told, with all my heart and soul how I adore you
Have I conveyed to you just how deep my love and adoration for you goes?
Well darlin' I'm tellin' you now.
Well, my beloved, I am expressing my love to you at this very moment.
This heart would break in two if you refuse me
My heart would shatter if you were to reject me.
I'm no good without you anyhow
I am incomplete and lost without you in my life.
Dear have I told you lately that I love you
My dearest, have I recently said how much I love you?
When the stars are shinin' in the sky
During the nighttime when the stars are visible.
Have I told you why the nights are long when you're not with me
Have I explained to you the unbearable length of the nights when you are not by my side?
Have I told you lately when I'm sleepin'
Have I mentioned how you permeate even my dreams?
Every dream I dream is you somehow
You somehow become the subject of every dream I have.
Have I told you who I'd like to share my love forever
Have I revealed to you my desire to spend eternity loving you?
Well darlin' I'm telling you now
Well, my beloved, I am expressing that desire to you at this very moment.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SCOTT WISEMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@buithuhuong19
Have I told you lately that I love you?
Could I tell you once again somehow?
Have I told with all my heart and soul how I adore you?
Well darling I'm telling you now
Have I told you lately when I'm sleeping
Every dream I dream is you somehow?
Have I told you why the nights are long
When you're not with me?
Well darling I'm telling you now
My heart would break in two if I should lose you
I'm no good without you anyhow
And have I told you lately that I love you
Well darling I'm telling you now
My heart would break in two if I should lose you
I'm no good without you anyhow
And have I told you lately that I love you
Well darling I'm telling you now
@sandy6660
This is the talented artist I first heard this song sung by. Loved it then and still do. His music lives on. Thanks for sharing.
@sauquoit13456
On this day in 1957 {October 7th} "Be-Bop Baby" by Ricky Nelson entered Billboard's Top 100 chart; eventually it peaked at #3 & spent 20 weeks on the Top 100 {Imperial Records released it as the B-side of the record}. But the record's A-side, "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You", also charted, it reached #29 and stayed on the Top 100 for 9 weeks {the Four Preps sang back-up on this recording}. Mr. Nelson, born Eric Hilliard Nelson, passed away on December 31st, 1985 at the young age of 45.
@AlexandraElorza
I just love this song. Ricky was one of my first crushes when I was just a little girl. This is a beautiful song.
@lindapadilla6813
I LOVE this slower version of this song!
@colinpurssey9875
I agree with you Linda , but the very best version of this song that I've ever heard is by Eddie Cochran, and it's even slower than Ricky's . Check it out on Youtube.
@motomichiokura1922
One of my favorites.
@moemcgovern7345
I still miss him. RIP Rick
@angelolucerne5233
How could I not know this great musician [though I heard about Elvis]..not until 2020? I was only five..when he died in 1985--and it is a sad thing to realize such! Now, I have a list [my favorites] of his great songs--It's Up to You, Travelin' Man, Lonesome Town, Hello Marylou, For You, Teenage Idol, Fools Rush In, Legacy, Believe What You Say, and this one of course...Have I Told You Lately That I Love You? Ricky Nelson sings without much effort [like Karen Capenter]...a beautiful voice, indeed!
@jimcavalier1479
In 1959 I recorded a 'demo' at Gene Breeden's home built studio in a converted garage in Visalia, CA. I was 14 at the time and this was the song I recorded. Gene has gone on from there to own one of the most successful recording studios in Nashville, TN.
@lancesta01
have you got the recording?