How Can You Do It Alone - Pete Townshend

Saw a man about fifty or so He looked lonely but his eyes were bright

He was walking up the Holland Park Road

And I stopped him to ask for a light

He practacally froze when I spoke

But eased when he saw my cigarette

Then I saw as he lit up my smoke

Beneath his coat he was naked and wet

With eyes full of shame

For he knew that I knew

He slumped to the wall with a moan

I said I know there’s no name

For what you go through

But how can you do it alone.

I crossed the street to the local newstore

Flicked through some cheap magazines

Beside me some schoolkid I saw

Push some girlie mags down into his jeans

The shop girl was watching amazed

Asked me to call for the police.

She screamed at his blushing young face

And he escaped into the streets.

With eyes full of shame etc.

Do it alone, how can you do it alone,

I need your help, so I can do it by myself.

Do it alone, don’t have to breathe down a phone

I ain’t got a clue, 'bout the things that you do But how… can you do it alone.

How can you do it.

Back at the flat my girl sat in the shower

And wasn’t too keen on me sharing

She came out well after an hour

And by that time I was past caring

Some women it seems have the knack

Of attaining that stars in their dreams

They simply relax and lay back

While people like us scratch our jeans.

With eyes full of shame

And I know it must show

I slump — and I fall and I groan

Will somebody explain

What I need to know

How can you do it alone.

How can you do it.

How can you do it without any help

How can you do it all by yourself.