Pete Townshend - How Can You Do It Alone? lyrics

Saw a man about fifty or so He looked lonely but his eyes were bright I was walking up Holland Park Road And I stopped him to ask for a light He practically 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 Who can you blame he knew that I knew In the sound of his breath was 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 news store Flicked through some cheap magazines Beside me some school kid I saw Push some girlie mag down into his jeans The shop girl was watching amazed Asked me to call for the police She screamed at his blushing young face But he escaped into the streets 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". 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 the 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... (etc) 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 alone... (etc)