OCTOBER 15, 1971 – Rick Nelson (formerly Ricky) performed by invitation at the seventh annual “Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival Show,” an oldies concert held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The playbill included many greats of the early rock era, including Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, and Bobby Rydell.Nelson came on stage dressed in the then-current fashion, wearing bell-bottoms and a purple velvet shirt, with his hair hanging down to his shoulders. Debuting some of his newer, country-rock material with his Stone Canyon Band, he then started playing his older songs like “Hello Mary Lou”, but when he played The Rolling Stones’ “Country Honk” (a country version of their hit song “Honky Tonk Women”) the crowd began to boo, expecting to hear his teenage hits. While some reports say that the booing was caused by police action in the back of the audience, Nelson took it personally and left the stage. He watched the rest of the concert backstage and did not reappear on stage for the finale. The experience so unnerved the former teen idol that he went home and wrote a song about the experience titled “Garden Party.” Ironically, in 1972 it became his first US Top Ten hit since 1963’s “For You.”
LYRICS:
I went to a garden party to reminisce with my old friendsA chance to share old memories and play our songs againWhen I got to the garden party, they all knew my nameNo one recognized me, I didn’t look the sameBut it’s all right now, I learned my lesson well.You see, ya can’t please everyone, so ya got to please yourselfPeople came from miles around, everyone was thereYoko brought her walrus, there was magic in the air’n’ over in the corner, much to my surpriseMr. Hughes hid in Dylan’s shoes wearing his disguiseBut it’s all right now, I learned my lesson well.You see, ya can’t please everyone, so ya got to please yourselfLott-in-dah-dah-dah, lot-in-dah-dah-dahPlayed them all the old songs, thought that’s why they cameNo one heard the music, we didn’t look the sameI said hello to “mary lou”, she belongs to meWhen i sang a song about a honky-tonk, it was time to leaveBut it’s all right now, I learned my lesson well.You see, ya can’t please everyone, so ya got to please yourselfLot-dah-dah-dah (lot-dah-dah-dah)Lot-in-dah-dah-dahSomeone opened up a closet door and out stepped johnny b. goodePlaying guitar like a-ringin’ a bell and lookin’ like he shouldIf you gotta play at garden parties, i wish you a lotta luckBut if memories were all I sang, I rather drive a truckBut it’s all right now, I learned my lesson well.You see, ya can’t please everyone, so ya got to please yourselfLot-dah-dah-dah (lot-dah-dah-dah)Lot-in-dah-dah-dah’n’ it’s all right now, learned my lesson wellYou see, ya can’t please everyone, so you got to please yourself
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