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.
Sweeter Than You
Ricky Nelson Lyrics
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And I could never belong to anyone sweeter than you
With you to stand beside me I'll never be alone
And what more could I long for than to have you for my own
My only desire is loving you eternally
For no, no other love could ever mean so much to me
So if you say you love me forever I'll be true
And what more could I long for than to live my life (with you)
I could never be loved by anyone sweeter than you
And I could never belong to anyone (sweeter than you)
The lyrics to Ricky Nelson's song "Sweeter Than You" are a declaration of love and devotion. The singer expresses his belief that he could never find anyone more loving or compassionate than his current partner. The song emphasizes the importance of having someone by your side through thick and thin.
The lyrics open with the singer declaring that no one could ever love him more sweetly than the person he is addressing. He then goes on to say that he could never belong to anyone else who is sweeter than his current partner. The verse is completed by expressing gratitude for the love and support received from the partner, and a declaration that they will never be alone as long as they are together.
In the second verse, the singer expresses his desire to love his partner eternally. He insists that no other love could ever mean as much to him as their love does. He then concludes the verse by committing himself to his partner, promising to be true if they say they love him forever.
Overall, the song's lyrics are a heartfelt tribute to a partner, emphasizing the love, support, and companionship that are essential for a fulfilling life.
Line by Line Meaning
I could never be loved by anyone sweeter than you
You are the sweetest person I have ever met and I could never find someone else who loves me as much as you do.
And I could never belong to anyone sweeter than you
Out of everyone else in the world, you are the only one I belong with because no one could be sweeter than you.
With you to stand beside me I'll never be alone
As long as you are with me, I will never feel lonely because you are always by my side.
And what more could I long for than to have you for my own
I desire nothing more than to have you as mine forever because you make me the happiest person in the world.
My only desire is loving you eternally
My sole wish in life is to love you forever because there is no one else I would rather spend my life with.
For no, no other love could ever mean so much to me
No other love in the world could ever compare to the love I have for you because it means everything to me.
So if you say you love me forever I'll be true
If you promise to love me forever, I will remain loyal and true to you because I believe in our love.
And what more could I long for than to live my life (with you)
There is nothing more I desire than to spend the rest of my life with you because you complete me.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BAKER KNIGHT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind