Be Yourself (Audioslave song)

The lyrics were inspired by events from the frontman's, 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."^[2]

The music video was filmed in an old hotel in downtown Los Angeles and directed by Francis Lawrence. It largely consists of footage of the band performing the song in a dark, isolated room with large windows. During the last chorus, lights in the background flash colors of red. Cornell has said that the band modeled the concept after the Beatles' film Let It Be. He said: "If you watch Let It Be, the look of the film makes the band look like it's an important happening. I just wanted to look important, like things looked when I was a child."^[3]

1. "Be Yourself" – 4:38
2. "Like a Stone" (live version)
3. "Show Me How to Live" (remix by T-Ray) – 4:48
4. "Be Yourself" (video) – 4:48

Imported version

1. "Be Yourself" – 4:38
2. "Super Stupid" (Funkadelic cover) – 3:24
3. "Show Me How to Live" (remix by T-Ray) – 4:48
4. "Be Yourself" (video) – 4:48

Vinyl

A. "Be Yourself" – 4:38

B. "Super Stupid" (Funkadelic cover) – 3:24