Synopsis
Creed perform in a dark, blue-tinted environment as Scott Stapp sings about guilt, spiritual conflict, and the self-made barriers that keep a person trapped. The band is shown moving toward a stage, while symbolic images of confinement, religious imagery, a distressed woman, an elderly man, and birds add a dreamlike quality. The imagery shifts between stark performance shots and surreal tableaux, reinforcing the song's central idea that inner turmoil can become a prison of one's own creation.
Factoids & Trivia
- The video was produced by Toronto-based Black Walk Productions and became a prominent early showcase for the band, receiving heavy exposure on MTV and MuchMusic.
- "My Own Prison" was Creed's first single and initially appeared on the Florida radio compilation *Locals Only* before the band's debut album was reissued nationally by Wind-up Records.
- The album's original recording sessions cost approximately $6,000 and took place largely at producer John Kurzweg's home studio in Tallahassee, known as The Kitchen Studio. "My Own Prison" was the first song tracked during those sessions.
- After Creed signed with Wind-up, the debut album was remixed by Ron St. Germain at Long View Farm in Massachusetts. The version associated with the major-label release therefore differs from the original independent recording.
- The song became Creed's breakthrough hit, reaching No. 2 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart and remaining there for nine consecutive weeks.
- A 2023 Loudwire tally identified "My Own Prison" as Creed's most frequently performed live song, with more than 302 performances recorded at that time.