Sheila Can Do It

"Sheila Can Do It" (likely originally titled "Rachel"; sometimes rendered as "Sheila Can Do (It)") is the eighth track from Van Weezer. It was originally written by Rivers Cuomo in early 1996.

## Background

"Sheila Can Do It" was written early in 1996 during Cuomo's time spent at Harvard University. Cuomo's handwritten lyrics for the song (under the title "Rachel") are dated February 22. The song, along with "Sunshine O", was notably written around the same time as Pinkerton tracks "Across the Sea", "The Good Life", "Falling For You", and "Butterfly". In a 2020 entry on the Riverpedia section of Cuomo's personal website, Cuomo confirmed that the song was partially inspired by Rachel Haden. The song never appeared on an album, but was performed at Homie shows in 1997, and rehearsed for the intended (albeit scrapped) Homie album.

During a Homie performance of the song at The Middle East in Cambridge, a woman exclaimed “That’s me!” upon Cuomo’s announcement of the song title. During a performance at T.T. The Bear’s Place a few weeks later, Cuomo asked if the same Sheila was there (she wasn’t)

The song was allegedly considered by Cuomo for inclusion on Weezer's planned ninth album (that eventually became Everything Will Be Alright in the End), but the idea was quickly scrapped.

A rehearsal recording from September of 1997 was included among hundreds of demos leaked online through the demo storefront on riverscuomo.com on November 7, 2020. A single copy of the song was sold to a user upon the storefront's launch on November 9, whereupon it was made freely available for other users. The recording was briefly available as part of the digital compilation Alone IV: The Blue-Pinkerton Years, but was removed due to the presence of performers other than Cuomo.

In a Riverpedia entry on September 3, 2020, Cuomo confirmed that the song "Eventually came out on Van Weezer." Cuomo noted in the same entry a few days later that the song's hook resembled the Ridel High song "Monsters Under Your Bed". "Sheila Can Do It" was released on Van Weezer on May 7, 2021. Kevin Ridel is a credited songwriter, due to the song's resemblance to the aforementioned Ridel High song.

## Lyrics

[Verse 1]

If Sheila can do it, I can do it

I don't see the problem with that

She is my other, a sister to a brother

And look at the thing that she's done

She looks like she's having fun

And I don't see the problem with that

[Pre-Chorus]

She's shaving her legs and she's feeling alright

She's putting on jeans of the type that are tight

She's getting herself ready to take on the night

[Chorus]

If I feel my heart is getting watered down

If I feel my heart is getting watered down

If I feel my heart is getting watered down

Then I'll stop and I'll turn and I'll say

[Pre-Chorus]

Man, if you'd seen this girl about two years ago

Seen her then, and seen her now, I swear you'd never know

That who you were seein' was the same pistachio

[Chorus]

If I feel my heart is getting watered down

If I feel my heart is getting watered down

If I feel my heart is getting watered down

Then I'll stop and I'll turn and I'll say

[Verse 2]

If Sheila can do it, I can do it

I don't see the problem with that

She is my other, a sister to a brother

And look at the thing that she's done

She looks like she's having fun

And I don't see the problem with that

[Chorus]

If I feel my heart is getting watered down

If I feel my heart is getting watered down

If I feel my heart is getting watered down

Then I'll stop and I'll turn and I'll say

[Verse 3]

If Sheila can do it, I know that I can do it

I don't see the problem with that

She is my other, a sister to a brother

And look at the thing that she's done

She looks like she's having fun

(She looks like she's having fun)

And I don't see the problem with that

(And I don't see the problem with that)

She looks like she's having fun

(She looks like she's having fun)

And I don't see the problem

I don't see the problem with that

[Outro]

(Bye, Sheila)

## See Also

 Standard