These Chains Are All Your Own

These Chains Are All Your Own

“Will you die and never know what it’s like outside?”

I put a lot of time and a huge amount of effort into this piece. More than that, I put my heart into it. It was inspired by the Marillion song These Chains which I encourage you to listen to.

It is also quite an autobiographical visual, which illustrates how I am the only one who holds myself back, and the only one who will miss out on what’s out there because I do… because the chains are comfortable, safe and warm, the cage is the known thing and “out there” is the unknown and frightening.

Listen to the song. Look hard at the image. As I say, the detail took ages…but, more than that…look at it, and you will see me…not just the self portraits within it – not merely my physical form – you will see me. Who knows? You might just see yourself in there too.

All photos used in this composite are mine, with the exception of the chains themselves, which my Jamie took when we visited Tenby, South Wales.

These Chains – by Marillion

Everything crashed
His wife left him
He lost all his money
And most of his friends
He lay awake all night
Lonely and desperate
Contemplating starting again
These chains are all your own
These chains are comfortable

Four in the morning
Sat in the kitchen
Keys on the table
Went out for a drive
He didn’t know
Where he was going
Didn’t know
If he was alive

The dawn was breaking
A new day was rising
Shadows creepin’ over the fields
He watched the pink light
Steal across the horizon
He realised
He saw with new eyes

These chains are all your own
These chains are comfortable
This cage was never locked
Born free but scared to be
This cage was made for you
With care and constant attention
This cage is safe and warm
Will you die and never know what it’s like
Outside

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