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.
Never Be Anyone Else but You
Ricky Nelson Lyrics
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Never ever be, just couldn't be, anyone else but you
If I could take my pick of all the girls I've ever known
Then I'd come and pick you out to be my very own
Never ever be, just couldn't be, anyone else but you
A heart that's true and longs for you is all I have to give
All my love belongs to you as long as I may live
There'll never be anyone else but you for me
Never ever be, just couldn't be, anyone else but you
I never will forget the way you kiss me
And when we're not together, I wonder if you've missed me
'Cause I hope and pray the day will come when you belong to me
Then I'm gonna prove to you how true my love can be
There'll never be anyone else but you for me
Never ever be, just couldn't be, anyone else but you
Mm, mm, mm, mm
Mm, mm, mm
In Ricky Nelson's hit song "Never Be Anyone Else But You," the singer expresses his undying commitment and love to his significant other. He proclaims that there is no one else for him but this special person and that he couldn't even imagine being with anyone else. The lyrics convey a sentiment of dedication and devotion to one's partner, a love so strong that no other person could ever come close.
Throughout the song, the singer reminisces on the happy memories he shares with his loved one, such as the way she kisses him and wonders if she misses him when they're apart. He promises to prove his love for her one day soon, cementing the idea that the love between the two of them is unbreakable. The song's message is clear and relatable, making it a timeless classic that has stood the test of time.
Line by Line Meaning
There'll never be anyone else but you for me
I can't envision anybody else being my partner other than you.
Never ever be, just couldn't be, anyone else but you
It's impossible to find someone else who fits me as well as you do.
If I could take my pick of all the girls I've ever known
If I had options among all the women I ever met,
Then I'd come and pick you out to be my very own
I would select you to be exclusively mine.
A heart that's true and longs for you is all I have to give
All I can offer is a heart that genuinely loves and desires you.
All my love belongs to you as long as I may live
I will love you for the rest of my life.
I never will forget the way you kiss me
Your kisses stay with me forever.
And when we're not together, I wonder if you've missed me
When we're apart, I ponder if you feel the same way about me.
'Cause I hope and pray the day will come when you belong to me
I desire and desperately pray for the day when you will be mine.
Then I'm gonna prove to you how true my love can be
When that day comes, I will show you how sincere and genuine my love is.
Mm, mm, mm, mm
Instrumental interlude.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: THOMAS BAKER KNIGHT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind