Nemo James

It Really Doesn’t Matter

From the Album  The Minstrel

He told her he was leaving, she said well that’s ok
He said with some deflation is that all you’ve got to say
It’s been ten years since first we met but you don’t seem to care
That now our time has ended, and you don’t shed a single tear
She said

It really doesn’t matter, doesn’t matter all
Life goes on, I’ll carry on I’ll stumble, but I won’t fall
Don’t get me wrong, I love you as much as any woman can
But I won’t be a slave to a heartache not for you or any man

She told him that his job was gone, he said well that’s ok
She said with some relief, is that all you’ve got to say
I’m sure you know at your time of life that work is hard to find
He said I know but if it’s time to go I’ll look ahead and not behind
He said

It really doesn’t matter, doesn’t matter all
Life goes on, I’ll carry on I’ll stumble but I won’t fall
Don’t get me wrong I love this work and feel a heavy sense of loss
But I won’t be a slave to the dice that are played not for you or any boss
And I say

It really doesn’t matter, doesn’t matter all
Life goes on, we carry on
We stumble but don’t have to fall
Don’t get me wrong, I know it’s hard
When all we have is built on sand
But don’t be a slave to the paths that are laid
Just do the best you can
No don’t be a slave to the paths that are laid
Just do the best you can

THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG

This song was inspired by something my father said, although I can’t remember the actual words and have no idea where they came from. It was something like, “In time, everything pales into insignificance.” It didn’t mean much to me when he said it, but when I look back at events that seemed so catastrophic at the time, I can see how trivial they were in the grand scheme of things.

It ties in with another of my favourite sayings, attributed to the Greek philosopher Epictetus, “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”