"Garden Party" - Madison Square Garden, NY, NY
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 40° 45.043 W 073° 59.528
18T E 585082 N 4511573
The song "Garden Party" recounts the experience Ricky Nelson has while performing at Madison Square Garden on October 15, 1971. Madison Square Garden is located between West 31st and 33rd Streets and 7th and 8th Avenues in midtown Manhattan.
Waymark Code: WMQVTH
Location: New York, United States
Date Posted: 04/02/2016
Views: 13
On October 15, 1971, Ricky Nelson was one of the performers at a Rock 'n Roll Revival concert in Madison Square Garden. The former 50's teen idol came dressed in contemporary clothing, sang his classic song "Hello Mary Lou," and then launched into new material, "Country Honk." For some undetermined reason booing was heard from the crowd. Nelson took the booing personally and walked off the stage. In 1972 he wrote and performed a hit song "Garden Party" about the event.
The lyrics tells the entire story:
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
But 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 gotta please yourself
People came from miles around and 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, you can’t please everyone so you gotta please yourself
I 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
And 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 gotta please yourself
Someone opened up a closet door and out stepped Johnny B. Good
Playing guitar like ringing a bell and looking like he should
If you gotta play at garden parties, I wish you a lot of luck
But if memories were all I sang, I’d rather drive a truck
But it’s all right now, I learned my lesson well
You see, you can’t please everyone so you gotta please yourself
You see, you can’t please everyone so you gotta please yourself
You can’t please everyone so you gotta please yourself
Madison Square Garden, commonly called "The Garden", is the premier multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. This is the fourth site for this famous venue. It opened at this location, over Pennsylvania Station, on February 11, 1968, It was one of the first structures of its kind to be built above the platforms of an active railroad station.
Musician: Ricky Nelson & the Stone Canyon Band
Name of Song: Garden Party
Relevant Verse:
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
But no one recognized me, I didn’t look the same.
Location website: [Web Link]
|
Visit Instructions:
There are no specific requirements for logging a waymark. You are, however, encouraged to include any funny or interesting pictures of your visit.