Ricky Nelson

Top ten sleeper!

Garden Party (1972)
Eric Hillard “Ricky” Nelson

I was pleased to see that “Garden Party” was in the top ten of greatest all-time country rock songs.
Ricky received early recognition from the sit-com, Ozzie and Harriet. Most people did not realize Ricky’s amazing talent for music. He had more hits than I remembered but “Garden Party” is my favorite. It was Nelson’s last top ten single. He died in 1985 with little recognition of his music career. I’ll do a list of his songs down the road. You’ll be amazed.
He’s a name that’s not thought of by most.
Listen to:
Garden Party

Lyrics

Went to a garden party to reminisce with my old friends
A chance to share old memories and play our songs again
When I got to the garden party, they all knew my name
No one recognized me, I didn’t look the same. But it’s all right now, I learned my lesson well.
You see, ya can’t please everyone, so ya got to please yourself
People came from miles around, everyone was there
Yoko brought her walrus, there was magic in the air
And over in the corner, much to my surprise
Mr. Hughes hid in Dylan’s shoes wearing his disguise. But it’s all right now, I learned my lesson well.
You see, ya can’t please everyone, so ya got to please yourself. Played them all the old songs, thought that’s why they came
No one heard the music, we didn’t look the same
I said hello to “Mary Lou”, she belongs to me
When I sang a song about a honky-tonk, it was time to leave. But it’s all right now, I learned my lesson well.
You see, ya can’t please everyone, so ya got to please yourself. Someone opened up a closet door and out stepped Johnny B. Goode
Playing guitar like a-ringin’ a bell and lookin’ like he should
If you gotta play at garden parties, I wish you a lotta luck
But if memories were all I sang, I rather drive a truck. And it’s all right now, learned my lesson well
You see, ya can’t please everyone, so you got to please yourself.