It Doesn't Matter Anymore by Buddy Holly

Album: The Buddy Holly Story (1959)

Charted: 1 13

License This Song

lyrics

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

In this song, Holly is coping with a breakup, telling a girl that she doesn't matter anymore, as it's all over between them. He recorded the song on October 21, 1958 in New York City. It was his last recording session, as he died in a plane crash on February 3, 1959. Released in January 1959, the song peaked on the Hot 100 at #13 in March.

In the UK, the song was released after Holly's death and rose to #1 in April, his only chart-topper there.
Paul Anka wrote this song specifically for Holly. Like Holly, Anka was one of the few young singers who was writing his own songs. In the late '50s, Anka was still a teenager and extremely prolific. He was also very business savvy, with his own publishing company, so having an artist of Holly's stature could pay off nicely.
This was one of the first Holly recordings to use string arrangements to highlight his vocals.
Paul Anka donated his royalties from the song to Holly's wife. He said: "'It Doesn't Matter Anymore' has a tragic irony about it now, but at least it will help look after Buddy Holly's family. I'm giving my composer's royalty to his widow - it's the least I can do."

Comments: 10

Mr Pheasent from Etna CaUsed to have one of his old 45 RPM but the songs were Peggy Sue and Everyday
Rabbit Bunny from Westminster MdThe relationship may not have mattered but Buddy will always matter! I can hear Holly's rage in this song-the darker side of his emotional world!
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 5th 1959, Coral Records released the Buddy Holly single "It Doesn't Matter Anymore"...
And sadly, twenty-nine days later was 'the day the music died'...
Twenty days after Buddy's death on February 23rd "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #82; five weeks later on March 30th it would peak at #13 {for 1 week} and it stayed on the chart for 14 weeks...
The record's B-side, "Raining In My Heart", also made the Top 100; it spent 2 weeks on the chart, the first week at #95 and the second week at #88.
Bill from Bangor, United KingdomLove Buddy Holly music
Ryan from Toronto, CanadaThere is a recent cover of this song by a young Canadian artist named Serena Ryder; her voice and the piano in the song make it one of the best covers I've ever heard.
Bob from Comox, B.c., CanadaThis was also recorded by Daniel O'Donnell on his CD
"From The Heart/Thoughts Of Home" 2002.
Tony from Devon, EnglandHolly rushed in with the song three hours before the recording session and orchestra leader Dick Jacobs wrote the arrangement in that time. That's why the strings are pizzicato; evidently that was all he had time to do.
Alan from Grande Prairie, Alberta, CanadaI have heard that Holly had asked Anka to write a song for him to record during the Dick Jacob's session. Apparently Anka forgot and when contacted by Holly about the song in a panic Anka wrote it in a matter of minutes.
Jerry from Brooklyn, NyThere two really fine covers of this -- one by Linda Ronstadt and the other by the always magnificent Eva Cassidy. It never ceases to amaze me how versatile Eva Cassidy was. There is hardly a style or genre that she did not master and make her own.
Joel from Jesup, IaThis may be one of the first "f-you" songs of rock n' roll.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Killer QueenQueen

The Queen song "Killer Queen," according to lead singer Freddie Mercury, is about a high-class call girl.

MC Skat Kat was created for the remix of "Opposites Attract," which was released as the last single from Paula Abdul's Forever Your Girl album. The team that created the Kat also did a-ha's "Take On Me" video.

FootlooseKenny Loggins

The names Louise, Jack, Marie and Milo all show up in the song "Footloose." Marie was the mother of Dean Pitchford, who co-wrote it.

Private IdahoThe B-52s

The B-52's chose the location of their song "Private Idaho" because the state has a reputation for being wacky and mysterious. The title is a play on the phrase "private eye."

The Way We WereBarbra Streisand

"The Way We Were" was the first of five #1 singles by Barbra Streisand. She is the only artist ever to receive an Oscar, Tony, Emmy and Grammy, and also record a #1 single and album.

Street HassleLou Reed

Lou Reed's 11-minute "Street Hassle" features a spoken part by Bruce Springsteen.