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.
Young World
Ricky Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you're in love, you're in a young world
So take my hand and let me show you
Just how true young love can be
And whoa-uh-oh
It's a young world
And if you'll tell me you're my one girl
Just by givin' your love to me
All of the world is a treasure
When you have someone to care
Promise me your love for-e-ver
We'll have the whole world to sh-a-are
And it's a young world
When you're in love, you' re in a young world
If you believe what I've told you
Let me hold you, say you love me
All of the world is a treasure
When you have someone to care
Promise me your love for-e-ver
We'll have the whole world to sh-a-are
And it's a young world
When you're in love, you' re in a young world
If you believe what I've told you
Let me hold you, say you love me
It's a young world, whoa-oh-oh
It's a young world, whoa-oh-oh
[Fade]
It's a young world, ooh-ahh-ooh-ooh (young world, young world)
Ricky Nelson's "Young World" is a song about the pure innocence and excitement of young love. The lyrics convey a sense of youthful optimism and the idea that love can make the world seem like a treasure. The song encourages listeners to take the hand of the one they love and experience the true potential of young love. When you are in love, the song suggests, you are living in a "young world," where anything is possible.
There is a sense of urgency in the lyrics, as the singer asks the object of his affection to promise him their love forever, and to let him show them just how true young love can be. The song reflects the idealistic perspective of many young people who believe that love can conquer all. The upbeat melody and catchy chorus make the song feel fun and playful, while the lyrics tap into the universal desire for love and connection.
Overall, "Young World" is a charming ode to young love, capturing the excitement and joyful exuberance that can be found in the early stages of a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a young world
Being in love makes the world feels young and exciting
When you're in love, you're in a young world
When people are in love, they feel young and invigorated
So take my hand and let me show you
Let me demonstrate how true young love should be
Just how true young love can be
Let's show each other the purest form of young love
And whoa-uh-oh
Expressing excitement for the experience of being in love
And if you'll tell me you're my one girl
If you reciprocate my love and be my partner
You'll make my whole life worth livin'
You will give my life purpose and meaning
Just by givin' your love to me
By loving me, you will give my life joy and happiness
All of the world is a treasure
The world is beautiful and valuable with a loved one
When you have someone to care
When you love and care for someone else
Promise me your love for-e-ver
Commit to loving me for eternity
We'll have the whole world to sh-a-are
Our love will allow us to experience and enjoy the world together
If you believe what I've told you
If you trust my words to be true
Let me hold you, say you love me
Allow me to embrace you while you express your love for me
It's a young world, whoa-oh-oh
The world is full of zest, energy, and vivacity
It's a young world, whoa-oh-oh
The world is young and lively with love present
It's a young world, ooh-ahh-ooh-ooh (young world, young world)
The world is buzzing with youthfulness and vibrancy
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JERRY FULLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
city zen
It's a young world
When you're in love, you're in a young world
So take my hand and let me show you
Just how true young love can be
And whoa-uh-oh
It's a young world
And if you'll tell me you're my one girl
You'll make my whole life worth livin'
Just by givin' your love to me
All of the world is a treasure
When you have someone to care
Promise me your love for-e-ver
We'll have the whole world to sh-a-are
And it's a young world
When you're in love, you' re in a young world
If you believe what I've told you
Let me hold you, say you love me
All of the world is a treasure
When you have someone to care
Promise me your love for-e-ver
We'll have the whole world to sh-a-are
And it's a young world
When you're in love, you' re in a young world
If you believe what I've told you
Let me hold you, say you love me
It's a young world, whoa-oh-oh
It's a young world, whoa-oh-oh
It's a young world, ooh-ahh-ooh-ooh (young world, young world)
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Jerry Fuller
Barry Chmura
On this day in 1962 {March 8th} Rick Nelson performed "Young World" on his parents' ABC-TV program 'The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet'...
At the time the song was at #58 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and five weeks later on April 15th, 1962 it peaked at #5 {for 1 week} and spent 13 weeks on the Top 100...
It reached #11 on the Australian Kent Music Report chart...
The record's B-side*, "Summertime", also made the Top 100, it stayed on the chart for 2 weeks, peaking at #89...
Between 1957 and 1973 he had fifty-three songs make the Top 100; seventeen made the Top 10 with two reaching #1, "Poor Little Fool" for two weeks in 1958 and "Travelin' Man" for two weeks in 1961...
He just missed having four #1s when "Teenager's Romance" {1957} and "Stood Up" {1958} both peaked at #2 on the Top 100...
R.I.P. Fredrick Hilliard Nelson {1940 - 1985}...
* "Young World" b/w "Summertime" was the 14th of 20 of his records were both sides made the Top 100 chart; the most successful was "Travelin' Man" at #1 and the flip-side, "Hello Mary Lou" peaking at #9...
sauquoit13456
On this day in 1962 {April 5th} Ricky Nelson performed "Young World" on the 'The Student Nurse' episode of the ABC-TV weekly sitcom, 'The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet'...
At the time "Young World" was at #8 on Billboard's Top 100 chart; two weeks later it would peak at #5 {for 1 week} and it spent thirteen weeks on the Top 100...
Between 1957 and 1973 he had fifty-three Top 100 records; nineteen made the Top 10 with two reaching #1, "Poor Little Fool" for 2 weeks in 1958 and "Travelin' Man" for 2 weeks in 1961...
He just missed having two more #1 records when two of his records peaked at #2; "A Teenager's Romance"* for 1 week in 1957 and "Stood Up"** for 3 weeks in 1958...
Sadly, Eric Hilliard Nelson passed away at the young age of 45 on December 31st, 1985...
May he R.I.P.
* The one week that "A Teenager's Romance" was at #2, the #1 record for that week was "Love Letters In The Sand" by Pat Boone...
** And for the three weeks "Stood Up" was at #2, the #1 record for those three weeks was "At The Hop" by Danny and the Juniors...
And from the 'For What It's Worth' department; exactly two years earlier on the day when "Young World" peaked at #5, on April 25th, 1960 he had another 'Young' record on the Top 100 when "Young Emotions" entered the chart at #98, it reached #12 {for 1 week} five weeks later, and like "Young World" it stayed on the Top 100 for thirteen weeks...
Eamonn Gaynor
That compelling smooth ,velvet voice will live in the hearts of millions of people forever RIP Ricky you remain a legend forever
Trudy Wolfe
Ricky Nelson doesn't get enough credit. He was terrific.
Val Dudfield
Beautiful song, beautifully sung ❤️😁🎤🎵🎼
Shan Timothy
Love the lyrics and his pure, innocent voice. It was, then, a young world and the music help us return, for a bit.
Frederick Fung
Yes, it's good lyrics. If you then sing: You are the Only One. Your sweetheart would love you more.
mkl62
This hit from Ricky Nelson went to #5 on the Top 40 charts. It went to #19 in the United Kingdom. It would finish at #43 for the year, 1962.
vcl1962
This song is simply timeless and truly awesome. Fond memories are flooding back. Many many thanks for the post.
The Epic Gamer
love ricky nelson he is so awesome🥰😍🤩🤩🤩🤩
what's that?
One of my favourite Ricky Nelson songs of all time! Beautiful, lovely Young World!
Jerry Brownell
Jerry Fuller wrote this one. Fuller also wrote A Wonder Like You and It's Up To You. Later Jerry Fuller wrote most of Gary Puckett & The Union Gaps hits.