"You Could Be Mine" is a high-energy hard rock composition credited to Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin, recorded by Guns N' Roses for their 1991 album Use Your Illusion II. The song originated during the band's first preproduction sessions for their 1987 debut Appetite for Destruction, when Stradlin's guitar riff caught Slash's attention and sparked collaborative development, but it was ultimately shelved until the Use Your Illusion sessions. A lyric from the song appeared on Appetite for Destruction's inner sleeve in 1987, hinting at material the band had in reserve. The composition carries an early working title of "Cocaine Talking," reflecting its themes of drug-fueled dysfunction in the Los Angeles scene, while the final lyrics draw from Stradlin's failed relationship, with references including a nod to Elton John. Musically, the piece features an extended drum and guitar introduction leading into riff-driven verses with a driving, punk-influenced rhythmic feel, combining hard rock intensity with the raw energy of the band's earlier work. The song gained iconic cultural status through its selection as the featured track for James Cameron's 1991 film Terminator 2: Judgment Day, a placement negotiated personally by Arnold Schwarzenegger over dinner with the band. Released as the lead single from Use Your Illusion II, it reached the top five in multiple countries and earned gold certification in the United States, becoming one of the band's signature songs and a permanent fixture in their live setlist.
