How Can You Do It Alone

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...

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...