Arrested By You

Dusty Springfield's song 'Arrested By You' delves into the overwhelming and transformative power of love. The lyrics describe a profound emotional experience, likening the feeling of falling in love to being 'arrested' or captured. This metaphor suggests a sense of surrender and inevitability, as if the singer has been taken over by an external force that she cannot resist. The use of words like 'strange elation' and 'tremor or a spark' conveys the sudden and electrifying nature of this emotional shift, highlighting how love can disrupt one's usual state of mind and lead to an unknown, yet exhilarating, destination.

The repetition of the phrase 'I've been arrested by you' emphasizes the depth of the singer's feelings and the sense of being completely overtaken by the object of her affection. This repetition also serves to reinforce the idea of love as a powerful, almost inescapable force. The lyrics suggest that this love has saved the singer from a 'desperate situation,' indicating that it has brought a sense of purpose and direction to her life. The transformation is so profound that she feels as though she no longer knows who she is, underscoring the idea that love can fundamentally change a person.

Dusty Springfield's soulful delivery adds an additional layer of emotion to the song, making the listener feel the intensity of the singer's experience. The song's structure, with its recurring chorus and emotive verses, mirrors the cyclical nature of love and the way it can continually captivate and consume one's thoughts and feelings. 'Arrested By You' is a powerful exploration of love's ability to take hold of a person and change their life in unexpected and profound ways.