Try Not to Breathe is a song from R.E.M.'s 1992 album Automatic for the People. The song depicts an old man's desire to end his life and to do so without burdening his friends and family.

The song was originally named "Bouzouki Song", as the song features a bouzouki, but during recording for Automatic For The People, engineer John Keane told guitarist Peter Buck his breathing was audible on the tape. Buck responded, "Okay, I'll try not to breathe," which somehow caught the attention of lead singer Michael Stipe, who rewrote the song.