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.
I'm Confessin'
Ricky Nelson Lyrics
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Tell me, do you love me too?
I'm confessin' that I need you,
Honest I do, need you every moment.
In your eyes I read such strange things,
But your lips deny they're true,
Will your answer really change things
Making me blue?
I'm afraid some day you'll leave me,
Saying "can't we still be friends"
If you go, you know you'll grieve me,
All in life on you depends.
Am I guessin' that you love me,
Dreaming dreams of you in vain,
I'm confessin' that I love you, over again.
The lyrics to Ricky Nelson's "I'm Confessin'" are a heartfelt expression of love and vulnerability. The singer is confessing to someone special that he loves and needs them, but he is unsure if they feel the same way. He speaks of reading "strange things" in their eyes that their lips deny, indicating that he senses some level of hesitation on their part. He worries that they may one day leave him and hopes that they won't simply try to remain friends. The song ends with the singer admitting that he may be dreaming of their love in vain but confesses to his feelings again.
The lyrics convey a sense of longing, uncertainty, and fear of rejection. The use of the phrase "I'm confessin'" throughout the song suggests that the singer is laying his heart on the line and hoping for a positive response. The reference to needing the other person "every moment" reinforces the depth of the singer's feelings and the potential impact of a negative outcome.
Overall, the song captures the universal experience of falling in love and the anxiety that can come with it. The singer is willing to take a risk and put himself out there, but he knows that the outcome is not entirely under his control.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm confessin' that I love you,
I am admitting that I have strong feelings of affection towards you.
Tell me, do you love me too?
Can you confirm that you also have feelings of love for me?
I'm confessin' that I need you,
I am admitting that I rely on you and cannot imagine my life without you.
Honest I do, need you every moment.
I am truthful when I say that I require your presence constantly in order to be happy.
In your eyes I read such strange things,
I see peculiar thoughts and emotions when I look into your eyes.
But your lips deny they're true,
However, you refuse to acknowledge or admit to these thoughts and emotions verbally.
Will your answer really change things
I wonder if your response to my confession will alter our relationship in a significant way.
Making me blue?
Will your response make me feel sad or depressed?
I'm afraid some day you'll leave me,
I have a fear that you will one day abandon me or end our relationship.
Saying "can't we still be friends"
You might try to soften the blow by suggesting that we maintain a friendship after the break-up.
If you go, you know you'll grieve me,
If you leave me, you are aware that it will cause me great emotional pain.
All in life on you depends.
My entire existence seems to hinge on you and our relationship together.
Am I guessin' that you love me,
I am wondering if I am correct in assuming that you have feelings of adoration for me.
Dreaming dreams of you in vain,
I imagine scenarios and fantasies involving you, but they are unrealistic and unlikely to come to fruition.
I'm confessin' that I love you, over again.
I am reiterating my declaration of love for you once more.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HAVEN A. JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind