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 in Love Again
Ricky Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Had no lovin' since you know when
You know I love you, yes I do
And I'm savin' all my lovin' just for you
Need your lovin' and I need it bad
Just like a dog when he's goin' mad
Hoo-ee baby hoo-ee
Baby won't you give your love to me
Told me you didn't want me 'round no more
Hoo-ee baby hoo-ee
Baby don't you let your dog bite me
Yes it's me and I'm in love again
Had no lovin' since you know when
You know I love you, yes I do
And I'm savin' all my lovin' just for you
Need your lovin' and I need it bad
Just thinkin' of you makes me feel so glad
Hoo-ee baby hoo-ee
Baby won't you give your love to me
Eeny meeny miney mo
You know it's you that I love so
Hoo-ee baby hoo-ee
In the lyrics of "I’m In Love Again" by Ricky Nelson, the singer is confessing his love for a woman who had rejected him earlier. He tells her that he has not been in love since the time she left him. He assures her that he loves her, and he is keeping all his love just for her. He badly needs her love, just like a dog that goes mad without its master. The repeated use of "Hoo-ee baby hoo-ee" and "Eeny meeny miney mo" adds to the playful and flirty tone of the song.
The reference to the dog and "Eeny meeny miney mo" can be interpreted in a couple of ways. It could show how much the singer is willing to beg and plead for her love, or it could suggest that he is not taking his love seriously, and the relationship is just a game to him. The upbeat tempo and the catchy tune, however, indicate that the emotions of the song are more lighthearted and playful rather than intense and passionate.
Line by Line Meaning
Yes it means I'm in love again
The singer confirms that they are experiencing feelings of love once more
Had no lovin' since you know when
The singer hasn't felt love or received affection in quite some time
You know I love you, yes I do
The singer is confessing their love for someone they care about
And I'm savin' all my lovin' just for you
The artist is committing themselves to one person and not spreading their affection around
Need your lovin' and I need it bad
The artist is expressing a strong desire for the love and attention of the person they care about
Just like a dog when he's goin' mad
The singer's need for affection is so strong that it's similar to a dog's desperation
Hoo-ee baby hoo-ee
The singer is using a playful expression to convey their excitement and eagerness for the other person's love
Baby won't you give your love to me
The artist is pleading with the person they care about to show them affection
Eeny meeny miney mo
The artist is playfully choosing or deciding something, in this case, expressing their love for the other person
Told me you didn't want me 'round no more
The artist is recounting a conversation where the other person indicated that they didn't want to be around them anymore
Hoo-ee baby hoo-ee
The singer is again using a playful expression to emphasize their eagerness for the other person's love and attention
Baby don't you let your dog bite me
The artist is using a metaphor to express their fear that the other person won't reciprocate their love, like a dog that bites when it feels threatened
Yes it's me and I'm in love again
The singer reiterates that they are indeed experiencing love once more
Had no lovin' since you know when
The singer repeats that it's been a while since they last felt love or affection
You know I love you, yes I do
The singer reaffirms their love for the other person
And I'm savin' all my lovin' just for you
The artist repeats their commitment to one person and not spreading their affection around
Need your lovin' and I need it bad
The artist's desire for the other person's love and attention is still strong and urgent
Just thinkin' of you makes me feel so glad
The singer expresses how happy the thought of the other person makes them
Hoo-ee baby hoo-ee
The singer still playfully expresses their desire for the other person's love and attention
Baby won't you give your love to me
The artist pleads once more for the other person's affection
Eeny meeny miney mo
The artist playfully chooses or decides something once more, in this case, their love for the other person
You know it's you that I love so
The artist confirms that the other person is the object of their affection
Hoo-ee baby hoo-ee
The singer playfully expresses their continued eagerness for the other person's love and attention
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVE BARTHOLOMEW, ANTOINE DOMINO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind