The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Saw a man about fifty or so
Saw a man about fifty or so
He looked lonely but his eyes were bright
He looked lonely but his eyes were bright
He was walking up the Holland Park Road
He was walking up the Holland Park Road
And I stopped him to ask for a light
And I stopped him to ask for a light
He practically froze when I spoke
He practically froze when I spoke
But eased when he saw my cigarette
But eased when he saw my cigarette
Then I saw as he lit up my smoke
Then I saw as he lit up my smoke
Beneath his coat he was naked and wet
Beneath his coat he was naked and wet
With eyes full of shame
With eyes full of shame
For he knew that I knew
For he knew that I knew
He slumped to the wall with a moan
He slumped to the wall with a moan
I said "I know there's no name
I said "I know there's no name
For what you go through
For what you go through
But how can you do it alone"
But how can you do it alone"
I crossed the street to the local news store
I crossed the street to the local news store
Flicked through some cheap magazines
Flicked through some cheap magazines
Beside me some school kid I saw
Beside me some school kid I saw
Push some girlie mags down into his jeans
Push some girlie mags down into his jeans
The shop girl was watching amazed
The shop girl was watching amazed
Asked me to call for the police
Asked me to call for the police
She screamed at his blushing young face
She screamed at his blushing young face
And he escaped into the streets
And he escaped into the streets
With eyes full of shame etc.
With eyes full of shame etc.
Do it alone, 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
I need your help, so I can do it by myself
Do it alone, don't have to breathe down a phone
Do it alone, don't have to breathe down a phone
I ain't got a clue, 'bout the things that you do
I ain't got a clue, 'bout the things that you do
But how ... can you do it alone
But how ... can you do it alone
How can you do it
How can you do it
Back at the flat my girl sat in the shower
Back at the flat my girl sat in the shower
And wasn't too keen on me sharing
And wasn't too keen on me sharing
She came out well after an hour
She came out well after an hour
And by that time I was past caring
And by that time I was past caring
Some women it seems have the knack
Some women it seems have the knack
Of attaining that stars in their dreams
Of attaining that stars in their dreams
They simply relax and lay back
They simply relax and lay back
While people like us scratch our jeans
While people like us scratch our jeans
With eyes full of shame
With eyes full of shame
And I know it must show
And I know it must show
I slump, and I fall and I groan
I slump, and I fall and I groan
Will somebody explain
Will somebody explain
What I need to know
What I need to know
How can you do it alone
How can you do it alone
How can you do it
How can you do it
How can you do it without any help
How can you do it without any help
How can you do it all by yourself
How can you do it all by yourself
Saw a man about fifty or so
He looked lonely but his eyes were bright
He looked lonely but his eyes were bright
He was walking up the Holland Park Road
He was walking up the Holland Park Road
And I stopped him to ask for a light
And I stopped him to ask for a light
He practically froze when I spoke
He practically froze when I spoke
But eased when he saw my cigarette
But eased when he saw my cigarette
Then I saw as he lit up my smoke
Then I saw as he lit up my smoke
Beneath his coat he was naked and wet
Beneath his coat he was naked and wet
With eyes full of shame
With eyes full of shame
For he knew that I knew
For he knew that I knew
He slumped to the wall with a moan
He slumped to the wall with a moan
I said "I know there's no name
I said "I know there's no name
For what you go through
For what you go through
But how can you do it alone"
But how can you do it alone"
I crossed the street to the local news store
I crossed the street to the local news store
Flicked through some cheap magazines
Flicked through some cheap magazines
Beside me some school kid I saw
Beside me some school kid I saw
Push some girlie mags down into his jeans
Push some girlie mags down into his jeans
The shop girl was watching amazed
The shop girl was watching amazed
Asked me to call for the police
Asked me to call for the police
She screamed at his blushing young face
She screamed at his blushing young face
And he escaped into the streets
And he escaped into the streets
With eyes full of shame etc.
With eyes full of shame etc.
Do it alone, 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
I need your help, so I can do it by myself
Do it alone, don't have to breathe down a phone
Do it alone, don't have to breathe down a phone
I ain't got a clue, 'bout the things that you do
I ain't got a clue, 'bout the things that you do
But how ... can you do it alone
But how ... can you do it alone
How can you do it
How can you do it
Back at the flat my girl sat in the shower
Back at the flat my girl sat in the shower
And wasn't too keen on me sharing
And wasn't too keen on me sharing
She came out well after an hour
She came out well after an hour
And by that time I was past caring
And by that time I was past caring
Some women it seems have the knack
Some women it seems have the knack
Of attaining that stars in their dreams
Of attaining that stars in their dreams
They simply relax and lay back
They simply relax and lay back
While people like us scratch our jeans
While people like us scratch our jeans
With eyes full of shame
With eyes full of shame
And I know it must show
And I know it must show
I slump, and I fall and I groan
I slump, and I fall and I groan
Will somebody explain
Will somebody explain
What I need to know
What I need to know
How can you do it alone
How can you do it alone
How can you do it
How can you do it
How can you do it without any help
How can you do it without any help
How can you do it all by yourself
How can you do it all by yourself
Lyrics submitted by Chris_Gough
How Can You Do It Alone Lyrics as written by Peter Dennis Blandfor Townshend
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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