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.
Poor Little Fool
Ricky Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But when I met that little girl I knew that I would fall
Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh
(Uh huh, poor little fool, I was a fool, oh yeah)
She'd hold me close and kiss me but her heart was full of lies
Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh
(Uh huh, poor little fool, I was a fool, oh yeah)
She told me how she cared for me and that we'd never part
And so for the very first time I gave away my heart
Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh
(Uh huh, poor little fool, I was a fool, oh yeah)
The next day she was gone and I knew she'd lied to me
She left me with a broken heart, won her victory
Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh
(Uh huh, poor little fool, I was a fool, oh yeah)
But I'd played this game with other hearts but I never thought I'd see
The day when someone else would play love's foolish game with me
Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh
(Uh huh, poor little fool, I was a fool, oh yeah)
Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh
(Uh huh, poor little fool)
The lyrics of Ricky Nelson's song Poor Little Fool talk about how the singer used to play around with other people's feelings and hearts just for the fun of it, but when he met a particular girl, he knew that he would fall in love with her. The girl, however, was not interested in a committed relationship and used to play games with the singer. She would kiss him and make him believe that she cared for him, yet at the end of the day, her heart was full of lies, and she would leave him with a broken heart. The singer acknowledges his foolishness and naiveté for falling for her games and believed her lies. He expresses regret and sadness for being the fool who falls for her deceptive charms.
One of the most prominent themes of this song is the pain and regret of being fooled by someone who plays with your heart. The singer in the song learns his lesson and acknowledges that he is not the only person who has suffered the pain of love. The song's lyrics depict the singer's vulnerability and naivety when it comes to matters of the heart. He has played with other people's feelings before and never expected to be played in the same way.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to play around with hearts that hastened at my call
I was a heartbreaker and could make anyone fall for me.
But when I met that little girl I knew that I would fall
When I met this particular girl, I fell head over heels in love.
Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh
I was foolish to think that she would never break my heart.
(Uh huh, poor little fool, I was a fool, oh yeah)
I can't believe I was so naïve.
She played around and teased me with her carefree devil eyes
She flirted and enticed me with her beautiful eyes, but she never had any intention of being loyal to me.
She'd hold me close and kiss me but her heart was full of lies
She would act affectionate, but it was all pretend because she never genuinely cared for me.
She told me how she cared for me and that we'd never part
She convinced me that she loved me and that we would never break up.
And so for the very first time I gave away my heart
I gave my heart to her, believing that she would cherish it.
The next day she was gone and I knew she'd lied to me
The next day, she suddenly vanished, and I realized that everything she ever said was a lie.
She left me with a broken heart, won her victory
I was left heartbroken, and she got what she wanted - to break my heart.
But I'd played this game with other hearts but I never thought I'd see
I've been a heartbreaker myself, but I never anticipated that someone else would do the same thing to me.
The day when someone else would play love's foolish game with me
The day finally arrived when someone played with my heart, and I became the victim of love's foolish game.
Poor little fool, oh yeah, I was a fool, uh huh
I shouldn't have trusted her so quickly and given her my heart.
(Uh huh, poor little fool, I was a fool, oh yeah)
I'm so foolish for believing her lies and breaking my own heart.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Sharon Sheeley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Adriano - Pedras Preciosas
Estes vocais são maravilhosos
Hmuaki Khiangte
Yeah,i love him
desidagoat
Fun fact, this was the first ever song ever to top the billboard hot 100
Julius Nepos
Yeah
Anton Malmquist
Great
John Smith
I don't think that makes sense lol
Wendy Johnson
I think that Ricky Nelson is the most underappreciated singers of the 20th century. He was a true talent and really was the best! Love him!
Fred Johnson
Hello👋👋👋👋
Darrell Somers
Correct !
Teresa d brown Brown
Agree