Make Yourself by Incubus

Album: Make Yourself (1999)

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Songfacts®:

This song is about, quite simply, making something of yourself. The message Incubus lead singer Brandon Boyd tries to get across in this song is that the only person you can ever really depend on is yourself, and you should be responsible for your own destiny, good or bad. If you let others run your life, it will eventually fall to pieces around you and while they gain something, you will lose everything.
At the beginning to the song, Brandon Boyd is singing through the pickups of Mike Einziger's guitars. >>
Suggestion credit:
Tim - Pittsburgh, PA
"Make Yourself" is the title track to Incubus' third album. They started the band in 1991 when they were all about 15 years old, and they put in the work, taking every opportunity to play live and build their fanbase. The Make Yourself album was their breakthrough, with the single "Drive" crossing over to the pop charts. In 2000, they toured with Dispatch and 311 as the album kept selling. In 2001, they launched their first headlining tour; the second and third shows were in New York City on September 15 and 16, just days after the September 11 attacks. "Make Yourself" was in the setlist, a song of resolve against the backdrop of the tragedy.

Comments: 14

Zero from Nowhere, NjGreat message and great song. I know someone who has a a tattoo of the name of this song on their arm (Incubus is his fav band) I was thinking of getting "I'd rather be dead than cool" (as said by Kurt Cobain in "Stay Away") I'm debating it some people may say it looks stupid but I don't care that's what I believe in and I'm not going to conform to anybody's standards. I'm gonna "make myself". (BTW Brandon Boyd and Kurt Cobain are definately 2 of the greatest and most intellignet lyricists of the past 20 years! rock on!)
Zach from Indianapolis, InThis song helped me quit smoking pot every day and doing other drugs and made me put my nose to the grindstone and do what I have to do to Make myself. Thank you Brandon Boyd for every way you have impacted my life, you truly are the greatest singer/song writer of my generation!!
Paul from Jacksonville, FlI've always found this song mimetic of Harrison's lyrics on Within You Without You: "Try to realize it's all within yourself, no one else can make you change, and to see you're really only very small,
and life flows ON within you and without you."

The former half of that is similar to the possible ideas of this song and others like Drive, and the second half is similar to Incubus songs like "Circles" and "Stellar".
Amber from Melbourne, AustraliaThis song is awesome motivation to choose to be yaself! Knowing that no one but yaself can make you into the best/strongest person. You have the power to be stronge and not let others lead you to become somthing your not.
Tom from Florence, ScMolly from OS, CT ... that's the dumbest thing I've read in ... well, forever. How you came to that conclusion is beyond me!
Molly from Os, CtI first thought it was about masturbation but the deeper meaning has fallen into place.
George from Richmond , VaI love the connection they made that if you let other people make you, youll be similar to papier mache.
Nate from Aurora, IlIt gets no better than this..i wish everyone heard this song and obeyed it...stop trying to fit in, dont take crap, and Make Yourself..that simple
Erika from Yuma, Azeveryone knows what theyre truly pasionate about and shoud just follow thrue with their goals, despite the ignorence of people who try to bring you down.
Mel from Sydney, AustraliaYou have to make yourself to make it through life...unless of course you want to get f***d around. Make yourself in your own way
Tim from Pittsburgh, PaJust be you and refuse to believe what other think about you.
Josiah from Minneapolis, MnMake yourslef. don't expect others to just come along and do it for you. If you want soimething better, if you know that there is more to life than this, you have to do it.
Desirae from Harrison, OhBe Real, Yourself. and don't be what everyone else wants you to be. This is a crazy cool song
Amanda from Waurika, Okwell, making yourself and not letting others rule your life and making something bad out of it.Its about be yourself dont let others fool you you are who you are and if you let people make you they will completely mess up your life and it will blow out of your hands. And you will be left invalid in your actions

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