The song "How Can You Live With Yourself" by Engelbert Humperdinck tells the story of a person reflecting on their past and their desire to be someone else. The lyrics reminisce about a girl who used to live next door and how the song "Love Me Tender" was playing on the radio during that time. The narrator acknowledges that the journey from then to now has been long and filled with both glory and deception. The song talks about the fading allure of fame and how the call of fame no longer resonates loudly above the empty crowd. The narrator questions how one can live with themselves while yearning to be someone else, highlighting the internal struggle and dissatisfaction with one's identity. They acknowledge that no matter what they could offer, it wouldn't break the spell and change their circumstances. The lyrics also touch upon broken promises and things that have disappeared over time, yet somehow, they have managed to survive through the darkness. Despite this longevity, there seems to be nothing left to try in the present moment. The chorus repeats the central question of how one can live with themselves while secretly wishing to be someone else. The narrator wonders how they can continue on this way, seemingly trapped in their own desires. The song concludes with a declaration to bid a fond farewell, suggesting that the narrator may be ready to move on and say goodbye to this internal struggle. Overall, "How Can You Live With Yourself" explores the themes of identity, fame, and longing for something different. It reflects on the struggle of reconciling one's true self with the desire to be someone else, ultimately questioning the satisfaction and fulfillment that can be found in such a situation.
