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| The song was
originally written by Chris
Hillman and Rick Roberts. Rick Roberts tells the story: CH and I played the version we had written sitting in the studio after a Thursday night session. We didn't know that tape was still running. We went back up north for the weekend to do Burrito gigs, and when we came back to Miami on Monday, Stephen presented the song to us with an already complete new set of lyrics. He and Chris may have done some minor tweaking after that, but Stephen had written the whole thing himself over the weekend. Stephen didn't write the song all by himself. Just the lyrics for the Manassas version. And he kept our title. I'm completely cool with how Chris has handled it all. He told me personally that he regretted not having made sure I was credited on their version, but there was a lot going on at that time, and it's easy to see how the omission could have happened. I don't blame SS either. He may well have assumed that Chris wrote the song himself, or that I just helped with the words. My only doubt lies in just how hard he tried to find out, and the fact that my performance credit on that Manassas album also seems to have been overlooked. I sang on three songs, including a straight 3-part vocal on "Sing to the Fallen Eagle." |
It Doesn't Matter (Roberts/Hillman) original version written by Rick Roberts and Chris Hillman She was just looking Wondering if you might notice her smile She was just watching Hoping you might want to stay for awhile Let her be by your side You don't have to say why You don't have to say why It doesn't matter She was just looking at you Standing alone while she tells you goodbye She still wishes you'd stay Wanting to tell you the way that she feels She can't think what to say Except don't walk away You might need her someday You might need her someday It doesn't matter She was just looking at you She was just watching As you walked away without turning around She was just crying Her head in her hands and her eyes on the ground Without making a sound Oh but don't turn around Leave her behind She'll be around If you change your mind baby It doesn't matter She was just looking at you From Firefall "Firefall" 1976 Atlantic Records Gold Hill Music(ASCAP) Stephen Stills Music(BMI) |
| It Doesn't Matter (Stills/Hillman) It should read (Hillman/Roberts/Stills) Falling and spinning losing and winning keeping my head Watching for signals wearisome vigil was I mislead I remember you said That you don't want to forget me It doesn't matter which of our fantasy's fail Every tomorrow looking tomorrow a piece of today Run a bit faster here comes the catcher making his play You had better not stay You will soon be surrounded It doesn't matter which of our fantasy's stay Lonely and winsome calling for someone living right now Something is shallow ugly and hollow Doesn't even allow you to want to know how You might live for the living Give for the giving moment by moment One day at a time It doesn't matter it's nothing but dreaming anyhow Stephen Stills "Manassas" 1972 Chris Hillman "The Other Side" 2005 "Three Byrds Land in London" |  |