Audioslave – Cochise

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I've been watching
While you've been coughing
I've been drinking life
While you've been nauseous
And so I drink to health
While you kill yourself
And I've got just one thing
That I can offer

Go on and save yourself
And take it out on me
Go on and save yourself
And take it out on me, yeah

I'm not a martyr
I'm not a prophet
And I won't preach to you
But here's a caution
You better understand
That I won't hold your hand
But if it helps you mend
Then I won't stop it

Go on and save yourself
And take it out on me
Go on and save yourself
And take it out on me
Go on and save yourself
And take it out on me
Go on and save yourself
And take it out on me, yeah

Drown, if you want
And I'll see you at the bottom
Where you crawl
On my skin
And put the blame on me
So you don't feel a thing

Go on and save yourself
And take it out on me
Go on and save yourself
And take it out on me
Go on and save yourself
And take it out on me
Go on and save yourself
And take it out on me, yeah

Send "Cochise" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by Degradation Trip

Track duration: 03:42

"Cochise" as written by Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Brad Wilk, Tim Commerford

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Cochise song meanings
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  • 0
    General Comment:I know that there's not a lot of meaning to the song - it's tied somewhat to Cochise the Chief. The coughing is probably typhoid and the other diseases that ran rampant within the confines of the reservations, meanwhile, Cochise is telling everyone that he's outside still enjoying a free life. The "killing yourself" means that those tribes/people who were willing to go to the reservations were doing so at the cost of their own health and livelihoods, as well as the settlers dying to try to fight him. He's offering a last chance to his native kin - come and fight him, kill him or put him on a reservation, so that "the indian wars" can stop and the US can hopefully end their prejudice against the Native Americans.

    I like the song because I feel it relates to my life - and probably a lot of yours as well. People around me are bringing themselves down, making stupid decisions and ultimately causing their own demise, or at least, it's not *my* fault they're in trouble. But they all seem to vent their anger on me, and I've come to accept that. If that's what gets you by, go ahead, swing away. Just understand that I'm not going to swoop in and try to fix your problems for you. I'm just as happy to watch you drown and die in your own misery, but if hurting me helps you cope, then that's cool too.
    Flag SlyBlu7on October 13, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I feel that this song is about an intervention. You can try as hard as you want to help the person in need but in reality they have to be the one that saves them self. Its hard for an addict to stop abusing a substance, so this person instead of targeting them self as a problem may target the ones that only want to help them. So in order to save someone you have to let them take it out on you, friendships may break but as long as the person can discover that they are in trouble it is worth it. But, there's also the chance that the person may not save them self "Drown if you want" in which the one trying to help also loses. Now its the helper's fault that he couldn't save a friend in need and they have to live with that failure "crawl on my skin". That's just how I see this song, I like it
    Flag frag11on October 13, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This work of art is displaying the contrast between regular folks, and Bible thumping holier-than -thou zealots. It ,without attack or degradation, holds a mirror to the judgmental hippocrite and forces him to look inside. Audioslave is rock in its purest form.
    Flag dacusville6on December 05, 2010   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • 0
    General Comment:Fairly obvious meaning. The narrator is singing to someone they know who's a heavy addict slowly allowing their life to trickle away, and he notes how the only way they can save themselves from it is to share their problems with him and give him a load to bear as well. In order to save this person, who they care deeply about, the narrator has to take on the character's problems and battle through them with them.
    Flag cassiusitsoveron November 05, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I suppose the Indian Chief story fits, it does also have an "off the reservation" feel to it in relation to substance abuse and recovery as well.
    Flag icensnowon September 08, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:tomas.....'Black Eye Sun'?!?!!?? c'mon now.

    Back to the point: this song rules, this band rules, and i totally agree with the Native American Chief interpretation.

    Personally, I prefer Soundgarden to Audioslave simply because im not the biggest fan of RATM. It's not RATM's lyrics, i simply dislike the sound. Chris Cornell is, by far, one of the greatest lyricists and singers in the world.
    Flag grimscythe24on September 30, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Btw, I know about who Cochise is, No need for a history lesson. Buuuuuut...Im tired of your wiki sh*t, haha. ;)
    Flag Imagine.Thaton May 13, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think the song means that you watch as someone is slowly killing themself with a substance abuse. But all you can do is just stand back and watch because youve tried talking to them about it, but it just doesnt work, thats what i think the "i wont preach to you, but heres a caution" Same with "im not a martyr", like he cant save you if you dont wished to be saved. And i think maybe, "go on and save yourself take it out on me" could mean that hes there to help, if you need it. But you have to take his help first.
    Thats just what i think it means, im sure everyone else might have a different meaning towards it..
    But I love this song because it just has a way of being clear to ME about what it means even if Cornell didnt intend to have it do anything with what i just said..
    Ive been through the..sitting back and watching thing before so i think this song has a sorta great meaning to me.
    Anyway, feel free to post the "correct meaning" if you want. :]
    Flag Imagine.Thaton May 13, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I realize there was an Indiana chief named Cochise who went on a warpath and drove settlers out of the Southwest, but I don't think this was the inspiration for this song or what the song is about. In my opinion Chris wrote this song and realized that some of the things this song dealt with and things Chris was going through were similar to what Cochise did for his people. To be honest you can't really go by what the Rage guys say about the lyrics to Audioslave songs. In an interview I believe on AOL Sessions either Tim or Tom made a comment that they wondered what the song "Like a Stone" was about. Cornell told them it was about a man waiting to die. Tim/Tom then said in the interview "wow I never realized how deep Chris Cornell’s lyrics were". I am just a fan of Cornell, not in a band with him, and I seem to know more about Cornell and his lyrics then it seems the Rage guys did. Tim/Tom/Brad were obviously the music behind Audioslave and Cornell was the meaning and lyrics.

    Before everyone starts commenting that I am comparing Cornell overcoming an alcohol and smoking dependence to Cochise slaughtering settlers, I want to clarify that the comparison is not literal. Cochise basically inspired his people to save themselves by revolting physically against people taking their land. Where as Cornell appears to be saying that he overcame his dependence and now he can see what others around him are doing to themselves. Almost like he can see things from the outside looking in now. He isn't going to preach to these people who are killing themselves, but instead is saying that you have to want to help yourself, before you can really change. Outside influences can do little, it has to come from within someone to really change.
    Flag lookcloseron February 05, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Tom Morello is incredibly talented. There are only a few songs that I don't pay attention to the lyrics and this is one of them. I love the intensity of this song... and Cornell is perfection.
    Flag Succubus_Supremacyon December 29, 2007   Link

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