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.
Travelin' Man
Ricky Nelson Lyrics
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I've made a lot of stops all over the world
And in every port I own the heart
Of at least one lovely girl
Down in old Mexico
If you're ever in Alaska stop and see
My cute little Eskimo
Oh my sweet Fraulien down in Berlin town
Makes my heart start to yearn
And my China doll down in old Hong Kong
Waits for my return
Pretty Polynesian baby over the sea
I remember the night
When we walked in the sands of the Waikiki
And I held you oh so tight
Oh my sweet Fraulien down in Berlin town
Makes my heart start to yearn
And my China doll down in old Hong Kong
Waits for my return
Pretty Polynesian baby over the sea
I remember the night
When we walked in the sands of the Waikiki
And I held you oh so tight
Oh, I'm a travelin' man
Yes, I'm a travelin' man
Yes, I'm a travelin' man
Woe, I'm a travelin' man
Ricky Nelson's "Travelin' Man" depicts the journey of a man who travels around the world and falls in love with different women in every port. The chorus of the song, “I'm a travelin' man. Yes, I'm a travelin' man. Woe, I'm a travelin' man,” declares the singer’s constant movement around the world. Each of the four verses presents a new location and a different woman, who he claims he owns the heart of.
The lyrics reveal the singer to be highly confident in himself and his ability to win over women. He portrays himself as a man who can have anything or anyone anywhere in the world. However, the constant movement of the traveler suggests a sense of restlessness, and perhaps a fear of commitment. Each relationship described in the song becomes less significant, with no clear resolution or happy ending.
Overall, the song suggests that the singer is more interested in the thrill of the chase than in any particular woman. The song's structure, with its repetition of the chorus after each verse, reinforces the singer's impulsive nature and his constant desire for new adventures.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a travelin' man
I am someone who travels frequently
I've made a lot of stops all over the world
I have visited many places in various countries
And in every port I own the heart
Every stop I make, I find someone who falls in love with me
Of at least one lovely girl
I capture the affections of a charming woman in every location I visit
I've a pretty Seniorita waiting for me
I have a beautiful lady in Mexico who is eagerly awaiting my return
Down in old Mexico
Refers to the location of the pretty Seniorita
If you're ever in Alaska stop and see
If you ever visit Alaska, make sure to meet my adorable Eskimo companion
My cute little Eskimo
Describes the Eskimo who is eagerly waiting for the traveler's return
Oh my sweet Fraulien down in Berlin town
I left my beloved woman in Berlin who makes my heart yearn for her
Makes my heart start to yearn
The artist's heart aches for his Fraulein in Berlin
And my China doll down in old Hong Kong
The singer's lover in Hong Kong, whom he affectionately calls a 'China Doll,' awaits his return
Waits for my return
The artist's lover in Hong Kong is waiting eagerly for his return
Pretty Polynesian baby over the sea
The singer recalls fondly his relationship with his beautiful Polynesian girlfriend overseas
I remember the night
The singer distinctly recalls a particular night spent in the company of his Polynesian girlfriend
When we walked in the sands of the Waikiki
The singer reminisces walking with his girlfriend on the sandy beaches of Waikiki
And I held you oh so tight
The artist is recalling a moment of physical intimacy with his Polynesian girlfriend
Oh, I'm a travelin' man
Reiterating that the artist is someone who travels frequently
Yes, I'm a travelin' man
Reiterating that the singer travels often
Woe, I'm a travelin' man
Expressing that being a person who frequently travels is both exciting and challenging at the same time
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Jerry Fuller
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind