Cochise

Audioslave is the group that rose from the ashes of Rage Against the Machine. After the departure of frontman Zach de la Rocha, the remaining members of Rage hooked up with Soundgarden lead singer Chris Cornell to form the band. "Cochise" was the first single from their first album.

Cochise was an Apache chief born in 1812. His name never shows up in the lyric, which has nothing to do with him. Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello came up with the title based on the vibe of the music - he was reading about Cochise at the time. Said Morello: "Cochise was the last great American Indian chief to die free and absolutely unconquered. When several members of his family were captured, tortured, and hung by the US Cavalry, Cochise declared war on the entire Southwest and went on an unholy rampage, a warpath to end all warpaths. He and his warriors drove out thousands of settlers. Cochise the Avenger, fearless and resolute, attacked everything in his path with an unbridled fury. This song kinda sounds like that."

This song takes aim at someone who seems to be wasting his life away, warning him that he needs to save himself. Chris Cornell did have someone specific in mind when he wrote it. He said the song is, "Me yelling at me, looking in the mirror."