Woman in Chains

TEARS FOR FEARS with OLETA ADAMS

WOMAN IN CHAINS

My take on this soulful beautifully crafted song. Please read on—- “Well you better love lovin And you better behave…”

This is a multi layered song and on the surface can be seen as an abusive man subjugating his female partner. However it is much more than that.

. In the video we see the woman in her traditional roles- a willing partner for her man’s sexual desire, a virginal bride in her white dress, a housekeeper yet also a sex object in her provocative dancer costume. She is also the soother of her man when he is stressed.

The abusive man is the demander of sex, the physically strong bully who expects his woman to cater for his needs— or else.

Needless to say, the woman is unhappy and the song is a plea for her freedom from this subordination. HOWEVER, the man is not happy, despite his dominance.

He is seen in his testosterone fuelled roles, bullying his woman, in the boxing ring using his physical strength. But very late in the song we see him behind the wire netting, imprisoned in his own perceived societal role. At the very end we see the man caressing a bird, something way outside the image we have seen. However if we view the bird as a symbol of the “woman in chains” then the bird / woman is at the mercy of the man, who decides the fate.

So the ultimate message of the song is that the male imprisonment of the female is not conducive to human happiness for either sex. The woman has the poorer deal, but the man too is incarcerated in his expectations and it is only by freeing the woman and embracing his own nurturing side can they both be free.

So soulful, just amazing. Written in the 80s, a very brave song for a male duo in that era. If you just listen to just one song this week, listen to this.