About The Song
“I Don’t Care Anymore” is a song written, performed, and produced by English drummer Phil Collins (with co-production by Hugh Padgham). It was the second US single from Collins’ second solo album, Hello, I Must Be Going! (1982). It became a moderate US hit, peaking at number 39 on the Hot 100. It did not see a UK release; however, it was released as the third single in various other countries such as Germany and Australia.
This song is considered ‘dark’ in tone, and is comparable to Collins’ earlier hit single “In the Air Tonight”, as both contain powerful drum kit along with simplistic synthesizers and guitar riffs, coupled with angry lyrics directed at Collins’ failed first marriage. The drums also illustrate the gated reverb recording technique that defined Collins’ sound throughout the 1980s. During “I Don’t Care Anymore”, the drum track switches several times between “standard” studio sound and a gated reverb overlay. Cashbox noted that with the song’s “sparse synthesizer and guitar arrangements” the drumming provides most of the emotional expression. Billboard said that “Collins combines R&B inclinations with his Genesis for a moody, brooding cry of rebellion.”
The song earned Collins his first Grammy Award nomination for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance in 1984, which was won by Michael Jackson for “Beat It”.
Video
Lyrics
Well you can tell everyone I’m a down disgrace
Drag my name all over the place
I don’t care anymore
You can tell everybody ’bout the state I’m in
You won’t catch me crying ’cause I just can’t win
I don’t care anymore
I don’t care anymore, d’you hear?
I don’t care what you say
I don’t play the same games you play
‘Cause I’ve been talking to the people
that you call your friends
And it seems to me there’s a means to an end
They don’t care anymore
And as for me I can sit here and bide my time
I got nothing to lose if I speak my mind
I don’t care anymore
I don’t care no more
I don’t care what you say
We never played by the same rules anyway
I won’t be there anymore
Get out of my way
Let me by
I got better things to do with my time
I don’t care anymore
I don’t care anymore
I don’t care anymore
I don’t care anymore
Well, I don’t care now what you say
‘Cause every day I’m feeling fine with myself
And I don’t care now what you say
Hey, I’ll do alright by myself
‘Cause I don’t
‘Cause I remember all the times I tried so hard
And you laughed in my face ’cause you held the cards
I don’t care anymore
And I really ain’t bothered what you think of me
‘Cause all I want of you is just to let me be
I don’t care anymore
Do you hear, I don’t care no more
I don’t care what you say
I never did believe you much anyway
I won’t be there no more
So get out of my way
Let me by
I got better things to do with my time
I don’t care anymore
Do you hear, I don’t care anymore
I don’t care no more
You listening? I don’t care no more
No more
Oh yeah, yeah
Oh yeah, yeah
Oh yeah, yeah
You know I don’t care no more
Don’t care no more
No more, no more, no more
Don’t care no more
No more, no more
No more, no more
No more, no more
No more, no more
No more, no more
No more, no more