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 Rise I Fall
Ricky Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You hurt I hurt I'm that much a part of you
And when you're happy baby well I'm happy too
Since I'm that much a part of you
I rise I fall with each little breath you take
You cry I cry cause I feel the same heartache
And when you're smiling baby well I smile too
Since I'm that much a part of you
Never let us be further than just a breath apart
I rise I fall with each little thing you do
You hurt I hurt I'm that much a part of you
Every thing that you feel baby well I feel it too
Since I'm that much a part of you
Every thing that you feel baby well I feel it too
Since I'm that much a part of you a part of you a part of you
The Ricky Nelson song "I Rise, I Fall" is a touching love song about the depth of a romantic connection. The lyrics express how the singer experiences every emotion their partner goes through, whether it be joy or pain. The line "I'm that much a part of you" emphasizes the level of intimacy, almost as if the two individuals are one being. The words, "Your lips are my lips, my heart is your heart" further elaborate on this idea of two becoming one.
The chorus repeats the same idea - the singer's emotions are completely intertwined with their partner's. The word choice of "rise" and "fall" symbolizes the ups and downs of life and how they are shared by both individuals in the relationship. The lyrics suggest a deep emotional connection that even when physically apart, the two are still closely connected.
Overall, "I Rise, I Fall" is a touching love song that expresses the depth of connection between two individuals who are truly in love. It is a testament to the idea that true love involves the sharing of emotions, experiences, and even pain.
Line by Line Meaning
I rise I fall with each little thing you do
My level of emotional wellbeing fluctuates based on your actions
You hurt I hurt I'm that much a part of you
Your pain is my pain, we are closely connected
And when you're happy baby well I'm happy too
I derive joy from your happiness, as we are intertwined
Since I'm that much a part of you
Our emotional connection is strong and profound
I rise I fall with each little breath you take
Even your every inhale and exhale affects my emotional state
You cry I cry cause I feel the same heartache
In times of sadness, our connection means that I feel your pain as deeply as my own
And when you're smiling baby well I smile too
Your happiness is contagious and lifts my spirits as well
Your lips are my lips my heart is your heart
We are so closely connected that our physical and emotional states are intertwined
Never let us be further than just a breath apart
May our connection always be strong and immediate
Every thing that you feel baby well I feel it too
Our connection is so profound that even your internal emotions are shared with me
Since I'm that much a part of you a part of you a part of you
Our bond is unbreakable and we are always a part of each other
Contributed by Hannah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Randy Richter
I just discovered the song today and it's one of my favourites by Ricky. His singing is amazing and what a beautiful song it is
shell thunder
I kinda like this song