It Doesn’t Matter Anymore – Buddy Holly

“It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” is a poignant and bittersweet song recorded by Buddy Holly in 1958, shortly before his tragic death in a plane crash in February 1959. The song was written by Paul Anka, who donated the royalties to Holly’s widow after his passing—a gesture that reflects the heartbreak and lasting legacy associated with the track. Released posthumously, it reached the top of the charts in the UK and became one of Holly’s most enduring hits, marking both an end and a tribute to his brief but brilliant career.

Musically, the song showcases Holly’s clean vocal delivery and his signature fusion of pop and rock ‘n’ roll. The arrangement features lush strings and a more polished production than some of his earlier, rawer rockabilly tracks. This shift in style hints at the musical direction Holly might have pursued had he lived longer. The production balances sorrow and resilience, which makes the song emotionally complex and compelling even decades later.

Lyrically, “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” captures the feeling of romantic resignation—letting go of heartbreak and moving on. Lines like “You go your way and I’ll go mine” and “Now you go your way, baby, and I’ll go mine” convey a sense of quiet acceptance rather than bitterness. It’s a song about closure, framed with a gentle irony: while emotions may have once been intense, the singer has now arrived at a place where those feelings no longer hold power.

The song has lived on not only as a classic of the late 1950s but also as a haunting farewell from one of rock and roll’s founding voices. It stands as both a reflection of Holly’s versatility as an artist and a reminder of the music world’s great “what might have been.” The mournful beauty of “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” ensures its place in the canon of timeless pop ballads.