Be Yourself

"Be Yourself" is the first single by Audioslave for their second album Out of Exile. It was released in 2005. The lyrics were inspired by events from frontman Chris Cornell's own life. "The 'be yourself' part really just came from a lot of things that I've gone through in my life and a lot of different changes and all the different tragedies and all the horrendously stupid mistakes I've made in my personal life, and wanting to be able to make up for those things and wanting to be able to not be ashamed, all that stuff," he explained. "You know, that's the one thing about getting older that's better, and this song kinda says it so simply, to a degree that 10 years ago I would've been embarrassed to put it in a song 'cause it is so simple. But there it is." This song was one the theme songs for Wrestlemania 26.

[Verse 1] Someone falls to pieces, sleeping all alone Someone kills the pain, spinning in the silence She finally drifts away Someone gets excited in a chapel yard, catches a bouquet Another lays a dozen white roses on a grave [Pre-Chorus] Yeah, and to be yourself is all that you can do Hey, to be yourself is all that you can do [Verse 2] Someone finds salvation in everyone, another only pain Someone tries to hide himself, down inside himself he prays Someone swears his true love until the end of time, another runs away Separate or united, healthy or insane [Chorus] To be yourself is all that you can do (All that you can do), oh To be yourself is all that you can do (All that you can do), oh To be yourself is all that you can do (All that you can do), oh To be yourself is all that you can do [Guitar Solo] [Bridge] And even when you've paid enough Been pulled apart or been held up Every single memory of the good or bad Faces of luck, don't lose any sleep tonight I'm sure everything will end up alright You may win or lose [Pre-Chorus] But to be yourself is all that you can do, yeah To be yourself is all that you can do, oh [Chorus] To be yourself is all that you can do (All that you can do), oh To be yourself is all that you can do (All that you can do), oh-yeah To be yourself is all that you can— Be yourself is all that you can— Be yourself is all that you can do