A Bread Song That Extremely Extends “If You Love Someone, Set Them Free”—”It Don’t Matter to Me” Meaning and Story

What is the song about? How was it emblematic of the work of Bread and its chief songwriter David Gates? And how was the single version a kind of second chance at the song for the band? Here’s the story behind the lovely 1970 Top-10 hit “It Don’t Matter to Me.”

Bread’s Bread and Butter

When you think of soft rock’s heyday, you might immediately head to the late ’70s. In that era right before MTV took hold, purveyors of sensitive songs about love and loss that were rendered at lilting volumes ruled the airwaves for a while. But in no way was it a new movement.

Singer/songwriters of the late ’60s and early ’70s had already trod that soft-rocking ground to some success before that. And if you could point to a single band that set the template, it would have to be Bread. In an incredibly impressive stretch between 1970 and 1973, the band churned out five Top-10 hits and four more that reached the Top 20.

None of those songs ventured too close to the harder edge of the rock and roll genre. And they were all written and sung by Bread’s mastermind David Gates. “It Don’t Matter to Me” epitomized Gates’ touch with the soft stuff, even if it took them two cracks at the song to find its hit single formula.

Second Time’s the Charm

Bread’s debut album sank without the proverbial trace upon its release in 1969. That did not bode well for the longevity of its tracks, one of which was a version of “It Don’t Matter to Me.” But the song received a second chance thanks to the success of Bread’s next go-around.

Their 1970 album On the Waters received a much stronger response than the debut, mainly thanks to the breakout success of the No. 1 single “Make It with You.” Perhaps realizing they had an overlooked gem that would benefit from the band’s newfound exposure, Bread decided to give “It Don’t Matter to Me” another go.

They headed back to the studio to record a new version of the song. This time around, they slowed the pace ever so slightly, left a little bit more open space in the production, and put Gates’ vocal in the forefront relatively unadorned. It all worked wonderfully, as Bread watched the song that hardly anybody heard on the first album rise to the Top 10.

What is the Meaning of “It Don’t Matter to Me”?

“It Don’t Matter to Me” makes the case that patience is key when things get rocky in a love affair. The narrator is completely understanding of his lover’s need to explore other outlets. The narrator willingly grants her Time to go out searching for yourself. If that means she finds out somebody else, that’s OK too: ‘Cause your happiness is all I want.

While that might seem like a foolhardy attitude, the narrator understands that clinging won’t work either, and he feels like his approach will pay off: How many came before it doesn’t really matter / Just as long as you’re the last. He promises his loyalty no matter what else comes: ‘Cause there’ll always be an empty room / Waiting for you / An open heart.

Yes, this guy might seem too noble to be true. But when you hear these lyrics expressed over the aching melody constructed by Gates, it makes it clear there is pain and longing that goes with his sacrifice. That’s why Bread’s “It Don’t Matter to Me” ends up seeming less like an unrealistic ideal, and more like a realistic view of the twisted path true love often takes.