It Doesn't Matter

Lyrics: John Barlow
Music: Brent Mydland

The Grateful Dead don't seem ever to have played this, at least in full. But they may have experimented with the chorus, with slightly different lyrics - see Shit Happens. See also Picasso Moon for comments on the origins of this song.

Finished up my masterpiece
Gave it to the thought-police
Wanta two-way ticket for a one-way ride
Nothing lasts nor ever will
You get born, then you're over the hill
Try you might, but no one's leavin' alive

They say what goes up will always come back down
Looks to me like it just goes around
And around and around

It doesn't matter, doesn't matter
It's alright, it's alright
The Universe
Is workin' fine tonight
It doesn't matter, doesn't matter
It's OK
Whatever comes to pass
Will just pass right on away

The future is a sea of dreams
The past a pack of lies it seems
Walk in glory or crawl to fame
I only own the surrounding minute
Borrowin' everything that's in it
Step out on the stage and lose your name

They say what goes out will always come back in
I don't know, I just like to watch it spin and spin and spin

It doesn't matter, doesn't matter
Have a little faith
I burn my maps
So I can navigate
It doesn't matter, doesn't matter
Have a little hope
You can't see tomorrow
With a telescope

We tear down nations with fits and rages
For a paragraph on history's pages
See those towers in the desert, torn in half

Whenever you mention Destiny
You better get rid of that capital D
Whenever Man plans, it makes God laugh

Where all this is heading, I can't even guess
I close my eyes and I just say "yes"
I say "yes, yes, yes"

It doesn't matter, doesn't matter
Gotta be here now
Gotta learn to live
In the present somehow
It doesn't matter, doesn't matter
Your big designs
Look mighty damned small
In the endless halls of time

Got a paper cut, but I'm outa debt
Cancer's gonna get me yet
Won the California Lottery
IRS took it all from me
They say what goes up
Will always come down
Looks to me like it just goes around
And around and around

It doesn't matter (doesn't matter)
Gotta give it time
Shit happens (shit happens)
World's working fine
Shit happens (shit happens) (note 1)
And away we go
It doesn't matter (doesn't matter)
And that's all we know
Shit happens

Walk in glory or hide in shame
Sooner or later, they're both the same
One man's gutter is another man's bed (note 2)
Sooner or later they'll both be dead
They say what goes out will always come in
I don't know, I just watch it spinnin'
Around and around

Shit happens (shit happens)
No one's top blame
It doesn't matter (doesn't matter)
That you can't explain
It doesn't matter (doesn't matter)
That you got no control
Shit happens (shit happens)
Just let 'er roll
It doesn't matter

It ain't a game so you can't win it
It'll all be over in about half an hour minute
So your hopes and dreams got shattered
Shit just happens and it doesn't matter
Tiny in the room of time
Everyone here been running' blind
Around and around