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.
How Long
Ricky Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It never seems to get here
How long before the train goes by
Will I just sit here forever
How long
Time and time I've tried to speak
But no one seems to listen
So I guess I'll just sit here and listen
How long
Time goes so slowly when you want to go
And you can't find a reason to leave
I think you know what it's doing to me
And that's fine, if that's what you wanna see
How long before the train goes by
It never seems to get here
How long before the train goes by
Will I just sit here forever
How long
How long
The lyrics of Ricky Nelson's song "How Long" describe the feeling of waiting for something that never seems to come. The train is used as a metaphor for a desired destination or goal that feels unreachable. The first verse describes the frustration of waiting and questioning whether the train will ever arrive. The second verse hints at a sense of isolation, as the singer has tried to communicate their feelings but has been unheard. The chorus repeats the question of how long it will take for the train to arrive, suggesting a sense of hopelessness and resignation.
The lyrics could also be interpreted as a commentary on the passing of time and the feeling of being stuck in a situation. The line "time goes so slowly when you want to go" captures the feeling of being held back by circumstance. The repetition of the phrase "how long" emphasizes the feeling of being trapped in a waiting game. The final line, "that's fine, if that's what you wanna see," suggests a bitter acceptance of the situation.
Overall, the lyrics of "How Long" capture the frustration and helplessness of waiting for something that may never come. It's a poignant reminder that time can feel like an eternity when you're stuck in a state of limbo.
Line by Line Meaning
How long before the train goes by
Wondering how much longer we'll have to wait for something anticipated
It never seems to get here
Time feels like it's moving slower than normal, often when waiting for something specific
Will I just sit here forever
Questioning if this moment will last forever or if something will ever change
Time and time I've tried to speak
Repeated attempts to express myself have been unsuccessful
But no one seems to listen
It feels like nobody is paying attention or cares about what I have to say
And life's too short to carry on
Life is too brief and valuable to spend it in futile situations
So I guess I'll just sit here and listen
Accepting defeat, I'll just be silent and let others do the talking
Time goes so slowly when you want to go
Counting down minutes feels slower when eagerly anticipating something
And you can't find a reason to leave
The desire to stay overpowers the desire to depart
I think you know what it's doing to me
You're aware of how emotionally affecting this situation is for me
And that's fine, if that's what you wanna see
Accepting reality that others may benefit from my lack of action or response
How long before the train goes by
Reiterating how long this wait is and how much anticipation is present
It never seems to get here
Continuing to express how slow time feels while waiting
How long before the train goes by
Asking the same question again, indicating the magnitude of impatience and curiosity
Will I just sit here forever
Closing the song with the unchanging feeling of waiting, questioning if it will last indefinitely
How long
Final repetition of the central theme of waiting and anticipation
Contributed by Ryan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Linda Saffold
great song, pure Ricky
Noah Fricke
Amazing! Rick is one of the best
Frank Misaege
Rick wrote and sang a lot of great songs once he formed the SCB. Unfortunately beyond Garden Party, She Belongs to Me and a few others, they didn't get much play on the airwaves. Too bad, much of the music loving public didn't hear what he had to say.
Todd Hutchens
What a great song.
daveedgeguitar
Probably my favorite Rick Nelson song. I sing and play it often! BEAUTIFUL!
Jim Colyer
One of the greats!
barbara ruhmann
I found this beautiful song about 3 months ago, on an Ian & Sylvia album, with Sylvia soloing. I have been trying since to find which album of Rick's it is on. Somebody had commented here that they didn't understand the meaning. I think it follows Garden Party as a comment on how nobody listens to his newer pieces, so all he can do is wait until people come around . And he asks, plaintively, "Will I just sit here forever?"
Nina Garcia
What a sad song, very nostalgic, thanks.
Sagebrush Bands
Does anyone have a version of this without the horribly distorted bass on the right channel?
Christiane Gamos
I love the voice and melody and harmony but don't understand the meaning. What is he waiting for? End of life and "Glory Train"?