It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” was a song written for Buddy Holly by his friend and fellow teen idol Paul Anka. Released posthumously, the song became Holly’s first UK No. 1 hit after his untimely death in February 1959.

The friendship between Holly and Anka reportedly began when Anka accidentally cut power to Holly’s mic during a shared performance, an incident that led to a strong bond between the two musicians. Anka, a Canadian teen sensation known for hits like “Diana,” “You Are My Destiny,” “Crazy Love,” and “Lonely Boy,” had a chart rivalry with Holly, but their camaraderie was unaffected by competition. It was fitting, then, that Anka would write one of the final songs Holly ever recorded.

“It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” was part of Holly’s last studio session, recorded on October 21, 1958, at New York’s Pythian Temple. This session, often referred to as “the string sessions,” included other tracks like “Moondreams,” “True Love Ways,” and “Raining in My Heart,” and marked the only time Holly recorded with an orchestra. Under the direction of Dick Jacobs, an 18-piece ensemble made up of former NBC Symphony Orchestra members accompanied Holly, producing a unique sound that contrasted his typical rock’n’roll style. Fans were introduced to a softer, more melodic side of Holly through these songs.

Producer Norman Petty has been rumored to have selected these orchestral tracks to shift Holly away from his rock roots, though Petty later clarified that Holly chose the songs himself. Petty admitted he was often responsible for introducing changes to Holly’s sound, but always aimed to enhance the music in a way that felt true to both Holly’s and his own artistic visions.

The recording sessi on itself was remarkably smooth, lasting only about three-and-a-half hours, and Holly nailed “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore”

on his first take. Anka, inspired by his own song “You Are My Destiny” with its orchestral strings, wrote this song specifically for Holly, knowing his friend wanted to experiment with violins. The song was handed to Holly and session director Dick Jacobs on the day of recording, and with minimal preparation, Jacobs crafted a light pizzicato string arrangement that complemented Holly’s emotional vocal delivery.

Released in January 1959, just weeks before Holly’s tragic passing, “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” was backed by “Raining in My Heart” and reached No. 13 on the US Billboard chart. In April 1959, it became a No. 1 hit in the UK, holding the spot for three weeks, and also topped charts in Canada and Ireland while reaching No. 2 in Australia. This posthumous success made “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” a defining part of Holly’s legacy, cherished by fans worldwide.

Lyrics

There you go and baby here am I
Well you left me here so I could sit and cry
Well, golly gee what have you done to me
Well I guess it doesn’t matter anymore
Do you remember baby, last September
How you held me tight, each and every night
Well oops-a-daisy, how you drove me crazy
But I guess it doesn’t matter anymore
There’s no use in me a-cryin’
I’ve done everything and now I’m sick of trying
I’ve thrown away my nights and wasted all my days over you
Well you go your way and I’ll go mine
Now and forever ’till the end of time
I’ll find somebody new and baby
We’ll say we’re through and you won’t matter anymore
There’s no use in me a-cryin’
I’ve done everything and now I’m sick of trying
I’ve thrown away my nights and wasted all my days over you
Now you go your way baby and I’ll go mine
Now and forever ’till the end of time
I’ll find somebody new and baby
We’ll say we’re through and you won’t matter anymore
You won’t matter anymore

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