The Gentleman COULD be singing about an elderly gentleman whose partner has dementia, but methinks that it's a breakup song, pure and simple. Mr. Bowie sings of a fellow who broke up with a lady who pretends she doesn't know him and he's glad of that because he was sick of her @$$ by the time of their parting

I love this song. It makes me think about a strange relationship I've been in.

We had this intense lust & I'd never tell my friends when I was seeing him.

As strong as our connection was, we also barely knew each other, I suppose it was very passion based.

In the mornings when he'd leave it was so awkward again..

I'd miss him & yearn to see him, but at the same time almost hope I wouldn't because I could feel myself falling for him. But everytime I'd make the decision not to see him anymore, as soon as he'd call me I'd give in.

The definition of 'run roughshod' is "treat inconsiderately or harshly" . I can relate to that.

if you listen closely in the version on The Buddha of Suburbia you'll hear a very similar background guitar theme to that of the song Look Back In Anger.

also, the bassline at the beginning is the same as the bassline at 1:11 into the 1967 song Join The Gang

I think it is about two people who were together and in love, but parted. And it is the depth and sorrow of understanding the way people can connect intensely and then in a matter of time realize how we all change. It is the wavering between the state of remembering the closeness, longing for it, and then old resentment as well the distance that grows so shockingly quick.

this is one of my favorite bowie songs. it has so much yearning, sadness, love, hope...

anyway, a couple of years ago i read some alternative interpretations of this song on a bowie board, and they just stuck with me, because they fit very well. one interp was that the lover that bowie is singing to has aids or alzheimer's or some other kind of terminal illness. the illness makes her drastically different physically and mentally ("thin and frail," "strangers when we meet"). she's dying, but she's not dead yet, so of course he "can't move on." her mind is getting weaker by the disease, and she "forgets his name." he's feeling conflicted by this disease, at once angry ("all my violence"), "bewildered," and "resentful." sometimes he just wishes to forget her and be "over her," and her "embrace was all that he feared" because he is afraid of becoming ill just like her. but at last he reconciles his love for her, and continues to love her, despite the bruises he has sustained emotionally, and he's ultimately thankful that she's still alive.

i just thought this was a fascinating interpretation that really, really works.

i think this i one of davids greatest an most epic songs. it s about him as an old, tired man, meeting a new girl and being glad, that she doesnt know anything about his future. so he is allowed to start all over again.