The Cynic (featuring David Bowie)

It was never supposed to be a relationship... he was in it for the sex, without all the emotional tie-ups.

But he starts to realize how hollow this leaves him. His life's passing him by, and he's denying himself any real personal connection with the lover he's been with for almost a year. He sees what he's doing to her - she's torn up by the emotional distance he demands of their relationship, and he thinks it's beautiful that she cares so much. He thinks that perhaps this is love, and proposes.

I originally doubted the sincerity of the last stanza, but notice that he's specifically taking note of her feelings, which he was trying to filter out during the first part of the relationship. Maybe he just doesn't want to be alone, but at the same time he's ready to acknowledge her feelings and turn this into something meaningful.

The music video indicates that, by the time he comes around, it's too late.

He is saying that he honestly isn't really in love with her, he just doesn't want to be alone. So he isn't interested in how she feels about the realationship, and he doesn´t want this to get deeper. Great song, Bowie's talent could have been a little bit more exploited.

yeah, I agree... The boy is with girl. but he doesn´t love her, he doesn´t want to be alone. But one day, he notice, that he is in love with the girl.

"I think I love you now."

I think he never really does love her, I think he just gets so numb that ends up telling her, cause in the same paragraph that he says that he also states that he has stopped really feeling anything.

For me it sounds like he didn't love her al the beggining... but then after a while he ends up getting used to her and he actually likes some details about her so he decides that maybe that's love.