I’m Not Free

The story behind the song

Originally inspired by a poem my step daughter wrote while in middle school. I think it’s a cool little riff in D. The original has an odd time signature that the AI doesn’t understand but it’s interpretation is pretty good and captures the riff nicely.

What does it really mean to be free?

Sometimes the chains that hold us back aren’t made of steel. They can be money, fear, expectations, control, conformity, or simply the feeling that we’re trapped in a system we never agreed to.

“I’m Not Free” is an angsty rebellion rock song about that feeling—the frustration of wanting to break loose, escape captivity, and find some kind of freedom in a world that can make you feel powerless.

The video takes that idea literally and metaphorically, following an ordinary man as he struggles against chains, crowds, isolation, money, and invisible forces that seem to control his life.

But eventually, he starts to question something even more important:

Are the chains actually holding him captive… or does he have more freedom than he realizes?

This is not meant to be a literal story. It’s open to interpretation.

Maybe the chains represent society.
Maybe they represent money.
Maybe they’re fear.
Maybe they’re other people’s expectations.
Or maybe they’re the things we put around ourselves.

Either way, the question remains:

I am not free.
How can I ever be?