Eric Hilliard "Ricky" Nelson (May 8, 1940 – December 31, 1985) was an Ameri… Read Full Bio ↴Eric Hilliard "Ricky" Nelson (May 8, 1940 – December 31, 1985) was an American musician, songwriter and actor. From age eight he starred alongside his family in the radio and television series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. In 1957, he began a long and successful career as a popular recording artist. The expression "teen idol" was first coined to describe Nelson, and his fame as both a recording artist and television star also led to a motion picture role co-starring alongside John Wayne, Dean Martin and Angie Dickinson in Howard Hawks's western feature film Rio Bravo (1959). He placed 53 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, and its predecessors, between 1957 and 1973, including "Poor Little Fool" in 1958, which was the first number one song on Billboard magazine's then-newly created Hot 100 chart. He recorded 19 additional top ten hits and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on January 21, 1987. In 1996 Nelson was ranked No. 49 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time.

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 Feelin' Sorry
Ricky Nelson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If you love me like you say you do, baby be true to me
If you love me like you say you do, baby never stray from me
I want you darling, everybody decide now, baby can't you see

Oh baby, I'm sorry (Oh baby I'm sorry)
For all the wrong I've done (For all the wrong I've done)
Oh baby, I'm sorry (Oh baby I'm sorry)
For all the wrong I've done (For all the wrong I've done)

Say you'll forgive me, I know I've done you mighty wrong

Oh baby I'm sorry...
If you want me, everybody decide you got to be true to me
If you want me, everybody decide you got to stay home with me

Don't want no other man to love you, oh baby can't you see
Oh baby, I'm sorry... [Repeat]

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Ricky Nelson's song "Baby I’m Sorry" essentially plead for the listener to stay true to them and not stray away. The central theme of the song pertains to faithfulness and loyalty within a relationship. The chorus highlights the singer's remorse for the wrongs he has done in the past, and he seeks forgiveness from his loved one. The verses of the song serve as a warning to the listener to remain faithful, and they must decide if they truly love the singer enough to be faithful to him.

The song's lyrics allude to feelings of vulnerability and insecurity. The singer's desperate plea for loyalty comes from a place of fear and uncertainty about the future of the relationship. The line 'If you love me like you say you do' suggests an underlying doubt about their partner's commitment. The sentiment of seeking forgiveness for past wrongdoings is a way to demonstrate a willingness to change and make amends for the sake of the relationship.

Overall, "Baby I’m Sorry" showcases a story of a lover's redemption, seeking forgiveness for their past failures, and attempting to secure a future filled with love and loyalty. It's a hauntingly beautiful song that captures the essence of a relationship's emotional vulnerabilities.

Line by Line Meaning

If you love me like you say you do, baby be true to me
If you truly love me as you claim, then please stay loyal to me.

If you love me like you say you do, baby never stray from me
If you genuinely love me, please never leave or cheat on me.

I want you darling, everybody decide now, baby can't you see
I desire you, my beloved, it is now up to everyone, can't you perceive?

Oh baby, I'm sorry (Oh baby I'm sorry)
Oh my dear, I apologize for the mistakes I've made.

For all the wrong I've done (For all the wrong I've done)
For all the errors I've committed and the hurt that I've caused.

Say you'll forgive me, I know I've done you mighty wrong
Please tell me you can pardon me, I recognize I've hurt you so much.

If you want me, everybody decide you got to be true to me
If you wish to be with me, everyone must agree, you need to remain faithful to me.

If you want me, everybody decide you got to stay home with me
If you desire to be with me, everyone must agree, you need to stay with me and not go around.

Don't want no other man to love you, oh baby can't you see
I don't want any other man to love you, can't you understand, my love?

Oh baby, I'm sorry... [Repeat]
Oh my dear, I'm apologizing again.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KENNY SCOTT, ROBIN WILLS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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