Broken Chains
This video was created for informational purposes to showcase various uses of AI as well as to inspire.
Directed By: Victoria McGuire
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Suno is the outlet but we are the heart. Even with the stipulations, it’s a great way to bring to life things that are difficult to orchestrate the moment you want/need them.
Listen HERE
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I did use their platform to create this video, I had to choose the symbolism I wanted to portray in the video and hands-on edit pretty heavily to get the effects I wanted.
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Although the creation was critiqued and refined by chatGPT the heart of these lyrics is the person behind the keyboard.
LYRICS
Woke up staring at a life that never felt like mine,
Chasing dreams in someone else’s storyline.
Carrying the weight of wars I didn’t start,
Taught to play it safe, but I’ve got a reckless heart.
They said I’d never make it,
Said I’d never stand,
But I’ve been building mountains
With these broken hands!
With these broken chains, I’m taking my shot,
I’m done with the echoes of all that I’m not!
No more waiting, no more fading, no more standing in the dark,
I’m not the victim, I’m the fire, I’m the beating heart!
I let the past decide who I was supposed to be,
Wore every failure like a chain wrapped around my feet.
But every scar I carry, every fight I’ve won,
Built the kind of fire that can’t be outrun.
They said I’d never make it,
Said I’d never stand,
But I’ve been building mountains
With these broken hands!
I’ve broken these chains, I’m taking my shot,
I’m done with the echoes of all that I’m not!
No more waiting, no more fading, no more standing in the dark,
I’m not the victim, I’m the fire, I’m the beating heart!
I see my reflection—I don’t turn away,
For the first time in forever, I know I’m here to stay.
I won’t be forgotten, I won’t fade to dust,
I was never meant to bow, I arise from the dust!
Weighed down no longer, I’m writing my name,
No more drowning in the fear, no more playing their game!
No more silence, no more waiting, I’m done hiding in the dark,
I’m not the victim, I’m the fighter, I’m the beating heart!
Live smart. Do your part. Don’t be a lost art.
An Analysis
Music is a force of transformation, a vessel for truth, and a catalyst for change. Broken Chains is more than a song, it is an anthem of liberation, resilience, and defiance against repeated control. Inspired by my personal experiences spanning from my early years in unofficial foster care at 13 to my breaking point in April of last year. This song speaks to reclaiming autonomy, rediscovering identity, and evolving beyond the limitations imposed by oppressive systems.
The Role of Support Systems in Reclaiming Autonomy
Breaking free from cycles of control is not just about leaving a specific person—it is about dismantling the internalized belief that my worth was dictated by external validation. Over the years, I encountered manipulation, forced dependency, and repeated patterns of control that shaped my perception of stability and safety. These experiences reinforced the illusion that I was only strong within the confines of those systems.
But breaking free was not the end of the story—it was the beginning. I had to rebuild my sense of self, recognize my inherent agency, and redefine my future outside the control I had once accepted as normal.
Moral Catalyst Analysis
The Moral Catalyst Framework evaluates actions based on what they catalyze rather than rigid moral absolutes. In this context, Broken Chains expresses ethical transformation, growth, and reclaimed agency.
Constructive Catalyst: Growth Beyond Dependency
Leaving oppressive systems does not immediately erase the mental and emotional imprints of those experiences. However, true liberation comes when growth replaces dependency.
The song embodies the realization that I was always the architect of my success.
My achievements, resilience, and ability to overcome challenges weren’t dependent on someone else’s validation.
Broken Chains is not about escaping, it’s about constructing a new reality where I define my worth.
Adaptive Catalyst: Shifting Perceptions of Power
Toxic dynamics often reinforce the illusion that stability equals safety. In reality, stagnation is just disguised captivity.
Those who exert control do not always collapse when their grip is released; they adapt and seek new ways to maintain equilibrium.
Survivors, on the other hand, must evolve, adapt, and redefine their narratives outside of the control they once lived under.
This song challenges societal norms by shifting the focus away from those who control and onto the survivor’s ability to reclaim their agency.
Necessary Catalyst: The Power of Rewriting the Narrative
Many survivors struggle with the need for validation or revenge. Broken Chains serves as a necessary catalyst for breaking that cycle.
It is not about proving them wrong, it is about proving yourself right.
It is about shifting focus from the past and placing it on what is being built in the present and future.
True power is not about outshining those who doubted the way but found in carving a path to make it easier for others to follow.
The Emotional and Societal Weight of Unseen Manipulation
Survivors of repeated control face an uphill battle in reclaiming their self-worth. The damage is often invisible to outsiders, making it difficult for others to understand the depth of manipulation involved.
Emotional captivity is just as binding as physical restraint.
When someone is conditioned to believe they cannot survive without another person or system, breaking free requires an internal revolution.
This song speaks to that silent struggle that moment when a survivor walks away and refuses to look back.
How My Journey Led to Ethical Innovation
I have spent my life listening to people’s stories, whether through caregiving, customer service, or my transition into technology. Every experience has reinforced my belief that giving voice to unheard stories is one of the most powerful ways to enact change.
My background in caregiving taught me to recognize silent suffering.
My work in customer service sharpened my ability to understand human behavior and motivations.
My transition into ethical technology development allows me to channel these insights into systems to prioritize people over profit.
Broken Chains is a symbol in that journey, turning pain into purpose and oppression into innovation.
Reclaiming Power Beyond Survival
This song is more than a personal anthem—it is a declaration that true freedom comes not just from leaving but from evolving. The power of survival is not in escaping oppression but in refusing to let oppression define the future.
Breaking free from repeated control is not about destroying the past but reclaiming the ability to build a new future.
The ethical agency is about choosing growth over resentment, purpose over vengeance, and identity over victimhood.
Broken Chains is a statement: I was never weak—I was the force that kept everything moving. Now, I move for myself.
The future belongs to those who reclaim their stories, refuse to be defined by their past, and rise beyond what was designed to keep them down. That is the essence of Broken Chains—an anthem of defiance, transformation, and self-defined strength.
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