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.
Wings
Ricky Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That a man does things for gold
Drives him crazy and it makes him old
Before his time
Sittin' 'round waitin' for the rainbow's end
Wastin' time and loosin' friends
Never knowin' that it ends before his eyes
Will be there when she rides
Talkin' 'bout wings
To carry us over the water
Talkin' 'bout wings
Pickin' us up by the waves
Aw, so many things can breed misunderstandin'
We'll soon be landin' on velvet wings
Once met a man and his words were wise
And he looked me in the eyes
he said brother don't you compromise
What you feel
All things figure in a bigger plan
And it's up to veryman
Just to do the best to reach his own ideals
And build a world around himself
And live it like he feels
Talkin' 'bout wings
To carry us over the water
Talkin' 'bout wings
Pickin' us up by the waves
Aw, so many things can breed misunderstandin'
We'll soon be landin' on velvet wings
Talkin' 'bout wings
To carry us over the water
Talkin' 'bout wings
Pickin' us up by the waves
Aw, so many things can breed misunderstandin'
We'll soon be landin' on velvet wings
Talkin' 'bout wings
To carry us over the water
Talkin' 'bout wings
Pickin' us up by the waves
Aw, so many things can breed misunderstandin'
We'll soon be landin' on velvet wings
The lyrics to Ricky Nelson's song "Wings" reflect on the idea that money can drive people to do things they wouldn't normally do and age them before their time. The song speaks to individuals who seek the truth and strive to do what they believe in, without compromising their values. The phrase "talkin' 'bout wings" symbolizes a desire to elevate above worldly troubles and achieve something beyond the mundane, something that can carry one over the water and pick them up by the waves. The song also alludes to the idea that misconceptions can cause confusion but one day, we shall all land on velvet wings, which implies a pleasant and luxurious future.
Line by Line Meaning
Seen it written and I've heard it told
It's said that there are men who do things just for money.
That a man does things for gold
Money can drive a man crazy and make him age before his time.
Drives him crazy and it makes him old
Waiting for something that may never come can be a waste of time and cost you friends.
Before his time
But those who search for the truth will be there to see it.
Sittin' 'round waitin' for the rainbow's end
We are talking about something that can help us overcome difficulties.
Wastin' time and loosin' friends
We are talking about something that can carry us over the water and lift us up by the waves.
Never knowin' that it ends before his eyes
However, so many things can cause misunderstandings.
But those of us who seek the truth
We'll soon be landing on velvet wings.
Will be there when she rides
I once met a wise man who advised me not to compromise on what I believe in.
Once met a man and his words were wise
Everything is connected, and each one does their best to meet their own beliefs, forming a world around it, living it their way.
And he looked me in the eyes
We are talking about something that can carry us over the water and lift us up by the waves.
Said brother don't you compromise
However, so many things can cause misunderstandings.
What you feel
We'll soon be landing on velvet wings.
All things figure in a bigger plan
We are talking about something that can help us overcome difficulties.
And it's up to veryman
We are talking about something that can carry us over the water and lift us up by the waves.
Just to do the best to reach his own ideals
However, so many things can cause misunderstandings.
And build a world around himself
We'll soon be landing on velvet wings.
And live it like he feels
We are talking about something that can carry us over the water and lift us up by the waves.
Talkin' 'bout wings
However, so many things can cause misunderstandings.
To carry us over the water
We are talking about something that can help us overcome difficulties.
Pickin' us up by the waves
We are talking about something that can carry us over the water and lift us up by the waves.
Aw, so many things can breed misunderstandin'
We'll soon be landing on velvet wings.
We'll soon be landin' on velvet wings
We are talking about something that can carry us over the water and lift us up by the waves.
Contributed by Bella T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.