Stephen Stills was born in Dallas, Texas on January 3, 1945 to a military family. Moving around as a child, he developed an interest in blues and folk music. He was also influenced by Latin music after spending his teenage years in Costa Rica and the Panama Canal Zone, where he graduated from high school.
Stills dropped out of the University of Florida to pursue a music career in the early 1960s. He played in a series of unsuccessful bands including the Continentals, which featured future The Eagles guitarist Don Felder. Stills eventually ended up in a nine-member vocal harmony group, the house act at the famous Cafe Au Go Go in NYC, called the Au Go Go Singers (Rick Geiger, Roy Michaels, Michael Scott, Jean Gurney, Kathy King, Nels Gustafson, Bob Harmelink, Richie Furay & Stills) where and when he met Richie Furay. This group also did some touring in the Catskills, and in the South, released one album in 1964, then broke up in 1965. Afterwards, Stills, along with four other former members of the Au Go Go Singers: Geiger, Michaels, Gurney & Scott, formed The Company, a folk/rock group. Immediately prior to performing in the Au Go Go Singers, Stills could be seen singing solo in Gerde's Folk City, a well-known coffee house in Greenwich Village. The Company embarked on a 6-week tour of Canada where Stills met a young guitarist named Neil Young. On the VH1 CSNY Legends special, Stills would say that at that time, Young was doing what he always wanted to do, "play folk music in a rock band." The Company broke up in New York within four months, opening up the way for Geiger to join a light opera company in Los Angeles; Michaels to link up with Jimi Hendrix, Gurney to go on to college while doing TV commercials, and Scott to tour with a retro-Highwaymen. Stills did session work and went to various auditions (including an unsuccessful one for The Monkees). In 1966 he convinced a reluctant former Au Go Go Singers, Richie Furay, then living in Massachusetts, to move with him to California.
Solo years
In the wake of CSNY's success, all four members recorded solo albums. In 1970, Stills released his self-titled debut, which featured guests Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, "Mama" Cass Elliot, and Ringo Starr (credited only as "Richie") as well as contributions from various members of the CSNY band. It provided Stills with the hit single "Love The One You're With" as well as the concert favorite "Black Queen." Stills followed this with Stephen Stills 2, which featured "Change Partners." Nash saw this song as a metaphor for the many relationships in CSNY, while Stills viewed the band as something much less bland and repetitive.
The next year, Stills teamed up with ex-Byrd Chris Hillman and several CSNY sidemen to form the band Manassas. During a Manassas tour in France, Stills met and married French singer-songwriter Veronique Sanson. Then he switched to Columbia Records, where he recorded two albums: Stills in 1975 and the punningly titled Illegal Stills in 1976. The former record found Stills in an uncharacteristically joyful mood; his marriage was going great, his son Chris had just been born, and he was happy living in Colorado. "To Mama From Christopher and the Old Man" was an exceptionally optimistic view of his new family.
In 1976, Stills attempted a reunion with Neil Young. At one point, Long May You Run was slated to be a CSNY record, but when Crosby and Nash left to fufill recording and touring obligations, according to both David and Graham the other pair wiped their vocals from the recordings, as Stills and Young decided to go on without their erstwhile partners as The Stills-Young Band. However, Young would leave midway through the resulting tour due to an apparent throat infection. Stills was contractually bound to finish the tour, which he did, but upon returning home, his wife announced she wanted a divorce and wished to move back to France. Stills reunited with Crosby and Nash shortly afterwards, thanks to the efforts of Nash's future wife Susan, who got Nash to forgive Stills for wiping the Crosby and Nash vocals from Long May You Run. This led to the semi-permanent CSN reunion of 1977, which has persisted even though all three have released solo records since then.
In 1997, Stills became the first person to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice in the same night for his work with CSN and the Buffalo Springfield.
2005 saw Stills release 'Man Alive'; his first solo offering in 14 years. Although not troubling the chart compilers, the record was critically well received and is regarded by many fans as his best since the mid seventies.
Stills was the inspiring influence for Ray LaMontagne who, after hearing one of his songs, decided to quit his job and focus on music.
It Doesn't Matter
Stephen Stills Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Losing and winning
Keeping my head
Watching for signals
Wearisome vigil
Was I mislead
I remember you said
It doesn't matter
Which of our fantasies 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 fantasies stay
SOLO
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's song It Doesn't Matter touches on the themes of loss, disappointment, and the fragility and fleetingness of life. Falling and spinning, losing and winning, the lyrics are filled with ideas of the unpredictable nature of life that we all experience. In trying to find a way to cope with this, the singer talks about keeping his head up and watching for signals, signifying his attempt to make sense of his surroundings.
The second verse captures a particular moment in the singer's life when he feels unsure of his future. He recalls a previous conversation with someone, who may have been a significant other or a close friend, who expressed the desire not to forget him. However, he wonders if he was misled, as the situation he finds himself in now contradicts those initial statements. The theme of disappointment continues in the third verse, where the singer calls out the shallow and hollow way that people often live life, which doesn't allow us to truly live in the present moment.
The chorus of the song repeats the message that it doesn't matter which of their fantasies fail, as every tomorrow is just a piece of today. The imagery of running and catching in the fourth verse suggests a sense of urgency and the need to act quickly, as the catcher symbolizes the end of the game. Despite this, the singer reminds us not to stay and wait for a situation to improve as we will eventually be surrounded.
Overall, It Doesn't Matter delivers a poignant message to the listener to enjoy every moment of the present, as it's all we truly have.
Line by Line Meaning
Falling and spinning
Life is a constant cycle of ups and downs, a continual process of falling and rising.
Losing and winning
Life is not just about winning, but also about losing. Both losing and winning help shape our lives.
Keeping my head
We should always keep our head even in difficult situations and never lose hope.
Watching for signals
Always be alert and watchful, looking for signs of what's to come. Life sends out signals to guide us.
Wearisome vigil
Being watchful all the time can be tiring and tedious. But persisting through it is essential to stay on the right path.
Was I mislead
Uncertainty and doubt can creep in, making us question our decisions and beliefs.
I remember you said
Memories of someone we love or care for can stay with us even when they are not around.
That you don't want to forget me
The fear of being forgotten, and the desire to be remembered, is a universal human emotion.
It doesn't matter
In the grand scheme of things, many things we worry about don't matter as much as we think they do.
Which of our fantasies fail
Dreams can sometimes fall apart or not come true, but we can always create new dreams to aspire to.
Every tomorrow
The future is always waiting for us, offering new opportunities and challenges.
Looking tomorrow
We should keep looking ahead towards the future, always eager to see what's coming next.
A piece of today
Even though we look ahead to tomorrow, we should still cherish and make the most of today.
Run a bit faster
Sometimes we need to push ourselves harder and go beyond our limits to achieve our goals.
Here comes the catcher
Obstacles and challenges may come our way, but we should keep pushing forward and stay focused.
Making his play
Life is like a game, and we need to be prepared for whatever moves it may throw our way.
You had better not stay
When times get tough, we need to be decisive and make choices to protect ourselves and our well-being.
You will soon be surrounded
Sometimes, life can feel like it's closing in on us, and we need to find a way to escape and break free.
Which of our fantasies stay
Some dreams and fantasies may come true, and we should cherish and hold onto them as long as possible.
SOLO
This is most likely meant to be a musical interlude or instrumental break, providing a moment of reflection and contemplation.
Lonely and winsome calling
Sometimes, we may feel lonely and longing for companionship or connection. It's a natural human emotion.
For someone living right now
We all seek to connect with people in the present moment, to build relationships and make memories together.
Something is shallow ugly and hollow
Life can sometimes feel meaningless or devoid of purpose, and that can be a difficult feeling to confront.
Doesn't even allow you to want to know how
When life feels empty or meaningless, it can be hard to summon the motivation or energy to try and fix it.
You might live for the living
We should always strive to make the most of our lives by seeking out new experiences, making memories, and cherishing time with loved ones.
Give for the giving moment by moment
We should give generously with our time, attention, and love in each moment, rather than saving it for some distant future.
One day at a time
We should take things one day at a time, living in the present moment and not worrying too much about the future or the past.
It doesn't matter
Once again, the song emphasizes that many things we worry about don't matter as much as we think they do.
It's nothing but dreaming anyhow
In the end, life is just a series of dreams and experiences, and we should cherish them while they last.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Chris Hillman, Stephen A Stills
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
johnny zell
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 fantasies 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 fantasies stay
SOLO
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
- XxJimmyPagexX -
Why is this so underrated? It’s PURE GOLD
Richard Stone
You are totally right about that !! I have seen Stephen Stills,CSN, a bunch and I mean a bunch of times...Stills.... Best guitarist ever. in my opinion....other than Roy Clark.
Burt472
Sure is
RICKY HENSON
YES IS .
Richard Sylvanus
It's gold Jerry!
Phillip Cosson
Amen!
Walter Taylor
An overlooked gem. Think I heard it a couple of times on the radio back in the day when my hair was young and long
Now my hair is short and gray and this song still sounds good today
Joe Belle
48 years later and it still sounds great and is a meaningful song. Today’s music pales in comparison.
johnny zell
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 fantasies 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 fantasies stay
SOLO
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
jardin botanique
fled