my source: http://www.codediesel.com/linux/installing-node-js-on-ubuntu-10-04/ (i guess though its an old ubuntu, this should still be applicable)
sudo apt-get install libv8-3.7.12.22 libv8-dev libv8-dbg libssl-dev curl
Go to nodejs.org - then hit download - which as of 10/2/2012 the link is http://nodejs.org/dist/v0.8.9/node-v0.8.9.tar.gz
or go hit (http://nodejs.org/dist/v0.8.9/node-v0.8.9.tar.gz)
tar zxvf node-v0.8.9.tar.gz