Adam and the Ants were a New Romantic band during the late 1970s and early … Read Full Bio ↴Adam and the Ants were a New Romantic band during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were one of the bands at the time that marked the transition from the 70s punk rock era to the New Wave/post-punk era.

Formation
Prior to the Ants, Adam Ant (born, Stuart Leslie Goddard) played bass in pub rock group Bazooka Joe, now primarily known as the band that headlined when the Sex Pistols played their first concert on 6 November 1975, at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. After witnessing this, Adam immediately quit the band with the intention of forming his own, inspired by the Sex Pistols.

Tentatively called the B-sides they practiced regularly over the following months but, lacking a drummer, never managed to play a gig. Meanwhile, Adam Ant had befriended some influential figures in the burgeoning London punk scene, most notably Jordan, who worked in Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood's SEX boutique store. The Ants eventually formed in early 1977 consisting of Lester Square (guitar), Andy Warren (bass guitar) and Paul Flanagan. Lester Square left to finish Art school and to later form The Monochrome Set just before the Ants played their first gig on 5 May 1977, at Muswell Hill.[3]. Mark Ryan replaced him on guitar and played the first gigs and recorded 'Plastic Surgery' (along with a few other unreleased demos) until he was replaced by Johnny Bivouac in October 1977. [4]

It Doesn't Matter
Adam & The Ants Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm sick of coming home and watching tv.
I just can't stand it when you sit next to me

It doesn't matter
It doesn't matter
I'll get by with another
Baby go to hell

Your perspirations brought the wallpaper down
I just can't stand it when you walk into town

I'd love to kiss you baby fall for your charms
But that's all over when you lift up your arms

There's so much trouble when we go for a bite
They say the food is off and they start to fight

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Adam & The Ants's song "It Doesn't Matter" seem to be about the disillusionment and eventual end of a relationship due to a lack of attraction and compatibility. The singer is expressing frustration with their partner's presence, finding their behavior unbearable and their physical presence repellant. The repetition of the phrase "it doesn't matter" suggests a resignation to the inevitable end of the relationship, and the dismissive "baby go to hell" reinforces the singer's annoyance and anger. The line "your perspirations brought the wallpaper down" is a colorful metaphor for the intensity of the partner's sweat and odor, and the subsequent line about not wanting to kiss them emphasizes the singer's aversion to physical intimacy with the partner. The final line about trouble when going out for food may suggest further incompatibility and the inevitability of conflict in the relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm sick of coming home and watching tv.
I am tired of returning home and spending time watching television.

I just can't stand it when you sit next to me
It is unbearable for me when you sit right beside me.

It doesn't matter
It's irrelevant.

It doesn't matter
It holds no significance.

I'll get by with another
I'll manage with someone else.

Baby go to hell
Please, leave me alone.

Your perspirations brought the wallpaper down
You sweating profusely ruined the wallpaper.

I just can't stand it when you walk into town
I am unable to bear it when you walk around in the town.

I'd love to kiss you baby fall for your charms
I want to kiss you and be captivated by your charm.

But that's all over when you lift up your arms
However, it ends when you raise your arms.

There's so much trouble when we go for a bite
We experience many problems when we eat out.