“Cochise” was released as Audioslave’s first single. The song was named after an Apache Indian chief who declared war on the Southwest and drove out thousands of settlers. Cochise has been described as the last great American Indian chief to die free and absolutely unconquered. When several members of his family were captured, tortured and hanged by the U.S. Cavalry, Cochise declared war on the entire Southwest and went on an unholy rampage, a warpath to end all warpaths.

Chris Cornell said the lyrics was about “me yelling at me in a mirror.” The song has several potential interpretations. First, it could be about someone yelling that he needs to stop wasting his life away. A second, and deeper, interpretation is alcoholism as the tates will discuss. Finally, a common subject in Chris Cornell’s music, is depression and how it can seem like depression is another part of you that wants to see you dragged down.