Saturday, December 3, 2011

The Band: It Makes No Difference

Although Robbie Robertson penned the song “It Makes No Difference,” it was bassist Rick Danko’s vocals that make it come to life. Since it received a bit of album airplay in the 70s, it is regarded as our Saturday Bubbling Under hit. It appeared on The Band’s 1975 album “Northern Lights – Southern Cross.”



As with the remainder of the album, “It Makes No Difference” was recorded in 24 tracks. Keyboardist/saxophonist Garth Hudson made use of many of the empty tracks to layer keyboards. Hudson also plays the soprano sax leads on this song.

Robertson’s lyrics are powerful which I believe why so many people connected with this song. It includes memorable poetry such as “It makes no diff'rence who I meet. They're just a face in the crowd, on a dead-end street.” Love found and lost is echoed in “It makes no diff'rence how far I go – like a scar the hurt will always show.” Who can forget the poignant lines like, “These old love letters, well, I just can't keep. 'Cause like the gambler says read 'em and weep.”



Live Performance from “The Last Waltz”


Danko is playing a Gibson Ripper bass on this one and not the characteristic Ampeg AMUB-1 fretless bass he used to play in previous years.



The older bass had a scroll headstock and had F-holes that went through the body. Pretty neat.



Lyrics


It makes no diff'rence where I turn
I can't get over you and the flame still burns
It makes no diff'rence, night or day
The shadow never seems to fade away

And the sun don't shine anymore
And the rains fall down on my door

Now there's no love
As true as the love
That dies untold
But the clouds never hung so low before

It makes no diff'rence how far I go
Like a scar the hurt will always show
It makes no diff'rence who I meet
They're just a face in the crowd
On a dead-end street
And the sun don't shine anymore
And the rains fall down on my door

These old love letters
Well, I just can't keep
'Cause like the gambler says
Read 'em and weep
And the dawn don't rescue me no more

Without your love I'm nothing at all
Like an empty hall it's a lonely fall
Since you've gone it's a losing battle
Stampeding cattle they rattle the walls

And the sun don't shine anymore
And the rains fall down on my door

Well, I love you so much
It's all I can do
Just to keep myself from telling you
That I never felt so alone before




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