The Inspiration of Audioslave in 10 Stunning Lyrics

To be yourself is all that you can do

Audioslave’s official catalog consists of three records and thirty-eight songs over the course of four powerful years. While preserving their individual legacy was always part of the progression, gone were the politically infused lyrics of Rage Against the Machine and the mysterious haunts of Soundgarden. With Audioslave, we were graced with more straight-ahead lyrics that revolve around the journey of the band. Each record opens up to the listener about a current state of mind. Though the signature flame holds its place on the album cover, it has a way of inviting you in to the current chapter.

As we are now 15 years past the self-titled debut of Audioslave, it is more apparent than ever just how moving their art was/is. There is a significant difference in mood between Audioslave and Out of Exile, while Revelations serves as a cautiously optimistic path into the future.

Here, we crack open the Audioslave vault and extract 10 sets of inspiring lyrics. What you will find is that though their sound was consistently explosive, delicate words were placed in both the loudest and quietest moments — creating an intimate setting for the listener to make of them what they please.

“Cochise”

Well, I’ve been watching
While you’ve been coughing
I’ve been drinking life
While you’ve been nauseous

The first sentence Audioslave ever said to us.
*Note the “thing” scream in the bridge deserves its own segment

“Light My Way”

And I’m willing
To listen to your answers
And I’m not afraid
To tell you I need you today

“I Am The Highway”

The whole damn song

“The Last Remaining Light”

Down your winter and
Underneath your waves
Where you watch and you wait
And pray for the day

And if you don’t believe the sun will rise
Stand alone and greet the coming night
In the last remaining light

“Be Yourself”

Even when you’ve paid enough
Been pulled apart
Or been held up
Every single memory of
The good or bad, faces of love
Don’t lose any sleep tonight
I’m sure everything will end up alright
You may win or lose

But to be yourself is all that you can do
To be yourself is all that you can do

“Heaven’s Dead”

Anchor the night, open the sky
Hide in the hours before sunrise
Pray for me not, I won’t lose sight
Of where I belong and where you lie

Heaven’s dead when you get sad
I see your wishes flying

“Yesterday to Tomorrow”

And unlike the times before.
From yesterday comes tomorrow.
When life comes alive the past moves aside.
No regrets and no remorse

“The Curse”

And if our paths forget to cross
It doesn’t mean you’re lost

And as you’re laughing at this fool tonight
Let me rid myself of any line that I might choose to trip you up
And as I’m howling at the moonlight, don’t you kid yourself
I will be your luck even at my worse, I will be you luck, never be your curse

“Until We Fall”

I understand that I’ll be misunderstood

And when I’m tired of feeling black
Spread the wings upon you’re back
Take us high above it all
Stroke you’re feathers ‘till we fall

“Somedays”

We sleep beneath the same sky but we all see it through different eyes

*With all due respect, claiming a place of it’s own outside of the 10 —
“In your house, I long to be, room by room patiently, I’ll wait for you there, Like a Stone.”