Wrapped Around Your Finger

The song 'Wrapped Around Your Finger' by The Police is a rich tapestry of metaphor and allusion, exploring themes of power, control, and enlightenment. The lyrics, penned by lead singer Sting, often delve into complex emotional and psychological landscapes, and this song is no exception. It tells the story of someone who starts as a submissive apprentice to a more dominant figure, only to grow and invert the power dynamic by the end.

The opening lines introduce the speaker as an 'apprentice' caught between Scylla and Charybdis, figures from Greek mythology representing two opposite dangers. This suggests a situation where the speaker feels trapped or forced to choose between two equally perilous options. The 'ring around your finger' symbolizes control and bondage to another's will. As the song progresses, the speaker gains knowledge and power, signified by references to Mephistopheles, a demon from German folklore often associated with temptation and cunning. The speaker acknowledges the control the other has but also hints at an awareness of the situation that will eventually lead to their own empowerment.

The transformation is complete in the final verse, where the speaker declares that the once-dominant figure will 'be wrapped around my finger,' indicating a reversal of roles. The 'devil and the deep blue sea' line reinforces the initial sense of being trapped, but the speaker's ability to 'vanish in the air' suggests newfound freedom and mastery. The song ends with a powerful image of turning one's face to alabaster, a metaphor for making the other person emotionless or powerless, completing the transition from servant to master.