The Who - How Can You Do It Alone: Guitar Chords

Learn to play "How Can You Do It Alone" on your guitar with our detailed chord guide and lyrics. This page provides everything you need to perform this song on the guitar, including lyrics integrated with chords, chord diagrams, and a key transposer to match your vocal range.

Learn How Can You Do It Alone Guitar Chords and Lyrics by The Who

This section will guide you through each part of the song, providing the guitar chords placed directly above the lyrics for easy playing. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, these elements will help you perform "How Can You Do It Alone" smoothly on your guitar.

For easier playing, use our Simplify Chords feature to remove difficult chords like barre.

       D
Saw a man about fifty or so
           C
He looked lonely but his eyes were bright
        D
He was walking up Holland Park Road
        C
And I stopped him to ask for a light
     D
He practically froze when I spoke
     C
But eased when he saw my cigarette
        D
Then I saw as he lit up my smoke
             C
Beneath his coat he was naked and wet

Chorus:
     Dm                          C
With eyes full of shame for he knew that I knew
     B                         C
He slumped to the wall with a moan
            C              G
I said "I know there's no name
      C            G
For what you go through
     A                  D
But how can you do it alone".

I crossed the street to the local new store
Flicked through some cheap magazines
Beside me some school kid I saw
Push some girlie mugs 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

Chorus:
With eyes full of shame
Do it alone, how can you do it alone
I need your help, so I can do it by myself
Do it alone, do not have to breathe down a phone
I have got a clue, 'bout the things that you do
But how can you do it alone

        D#  A#                   F   C
Do it alone, how can you do it alone.
             D#  A#                    C  G
I need your help, so I can do it by myself.
        D# A#                                 C  G
Do it alone, don't have to breathe down the phone
   D#           C               Dm             G
I ain't got a clue, 'bout the things that you do
     A
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
And was not 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

Chorus:
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


You can simplify chords by removing barre

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Simplify chords by removing barre

Guitar Chord Diagrams

A

Guitar chord A

A#

Guitar chord A#

C

Guitar chord C

D

Guitar chord D

Dm

Guitar chord Dm

D#

Guitar chord D#

F

Guitar chord F

G

Guitar chord G

B

Guitar chord B

Here you can see detailed diagrams for each guitar chord used in the song. Utilize our key transposer to adjust the chords to a key that better fits your singing range. Simply select the desired key, and the chords throughout this page will update automatically, ensuring you can play and sing comfortably.

If you are also interested in learning how to play "How Can You Do It Alone" on the ukulele, check out the chords on our sister site: Ukulele Chords for "How Can You Do It Alone" by The Who.

The Who Song List