Garden Party - the story of Ricky Nelson's song

Cover version by Pequinito. All references in the video to events around Ricky Nelson's last hit are from various sources found on the internet. This is a personal tribute to one of the originators of the rock'n'roll era.

Words and music by Rick Nelson.
I 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, you can't please everyone, so you got to please yourself
People came from miles around, everyone was there
Yoko brought her walrus, there was magic in the air
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, you can't please everyone, so you got to please yourself

lott-in-dah-dah-dah, lot-in-dah-dah-dah

Played them all the old songs, I thought that's why they came
But 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, you can't please everyone, so you got to please yourself

lot-dah-dah-dah (lot-dah-dah-dah), lot-in-dah-dah-dah

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'd rather drive a truck
And it's all right now, I learned my lesson well.
You see, you can't please everyone, so you got to please yourself

lot-dah-dah-dah (lot-dah-dah-dah), lot-in-dah-dah-dah

Well it's all right now, I learned my lesson well
You see, you can't please everyone, so you got to please yourself.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Garden
• party
• Ricky
• Nelson
• cover
• story
• behind
• the
• song

[daf827]

Thanks for creating and posting this! A fine tribute. And fascinating for anyone who knows the song but not the story behind it.

[Pequinito]

@daf827 Glad you liked it! Thanks for the comment :)

[adjkber7]

THIS WAS MYHUSBANDS SONG FOR THE WAY HE LIVED HIS LIFE RIP RICK AND LOUIS 12/20/42-3/27/11 THIS SONG WILL LIVE ON FOREVER.

[Pequinito]

@adjkber7 That's very touching...

[JeanChemla2]

i just did a cover of the song and I would be honoured to post here my tribute as a response to your nice video. Thanks for all the explanations you gave me about this beautiful song

[Pequinito]

@JeanChemla2 I'm always very happy to hear from fellow Ricky Nelson fans. Thanks for posting your nice comment and tribute video :)

[feraxks]

Thank you for the full story and an excellent job on the vocals!

[arkyron1947]

I've always assumed Mr. Hughes to be Howard Hughes?

[Daaaron36]

Did you know his kids uncle is mark harmon

[kynyrdskynyrd]

Real nice video about a great artist.I was walking out of a Grateful Dead NYE show at Winterland when we heard the sad news.

[joesphx19]

Fantastic vid, very worthy tribute. Thanks.

[6Your6God6]

i've always had this song's lyrics burned into my head and i never knew the name of the song or the artist. one quick search on youtube and one lucky guess as the title of the song and i found it! :) thank you YouTube!

[meredithkm09]

thanks for sharing! i love Ricky!!

[MrAxeEdent]

Thats what you call a perfect, good looking, flawless, couple at 00:50...............I can bet Ricky or his wife had squadrons of fans who swooned over them.

[DucksfanDoowop]

I like this version better than the original.