"Don't Tread On Me"
Song by Metallica
Released	August 13, 1991
Recorded	October 1990 - June 1991 at One on One Recording, Los Angeles, California
Genre	Heavy Metal Hard Rock
Label	Elektra Records
Producer(s)	Bob Rock, James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich
Chronology
"Enter Sandman" "Sad But True" "Holier Than Thou" "The Unforgiven" "Wherever I May Roam" "Don't Tread on Me" "Through the Never" "Nothing Else Matters" "Of Wolf and Man" "The God that Failed" "My Friend of Misery" "The Struggle Within"

Don't Tread On Me is the 6th song from Metallica's self-titled album. The song could be interpreted as a patriotic song, as it is connected with the American Revolutionary War. The meaning of the song and the lyrics could also be interpreted in the exact opposite way. In that aspect it could be a condemnation of blind patriotism, or criticism of the aggressive foreign policies of the U.S (also shown with the lines "to secure peace is / to prepare for war", and "Never surrenders, showing the fangs of rage" talking about how America wont back down). The lyrics are probably connected close with the Gulf War, because the song has been written during the time of the war. The rhythmic timing played by the guitars, bass and drums gives the song a somewhat "militaristic" sound. Cover of the Metallica album Metallica. ... [[ For other uses, see Song (disambiguation). ... Metallica is an American heavy metal band, formed in 1981,[1] which became one of the most commercially successful musical acts of recent decades. ... August 13 is the 225th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (226th in leap years), with 140 days remaining. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nickname: City of Angels Location within Los Angeles County in the state of California Coordinates: State California County Los Angeles County Incorporated April 4, 1850 Government  - Type mayor-council  - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D)  - City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo  - Governing body City Council Area  - City  465. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Heavy metals, in chemistry, are chemical elements of a particular range of atomic weights. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, and today operates under Atlantic Records Group. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... Bob Rock press photo Robert Jens Rock (born 19 April 1954 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) is a Canadian musician, sound engineer, and record producer. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Lars Ulrich (born December 26, 1963) is the drummer and co-founder of Metallica. ... Enter Sandman is a song performed by the heavy metal band Metallica on their self-titled 1991 album (also known as The Black Album). ... Sad But True is a Metallica song of the eponymously named album, Metallica (also known as The Black Album). ... In Christian dogma, pride (or vanity) is excessive belief in ones own abilities, that interferes with the individuals recognition of the grace of God. ... The Unforgiven is one of the slower songs on the self-titled album, Metallica (also known as the Black Album). ... Wherever I May Roam is the fifth track on the Metallica (aka Black) Album by the heavy metal band Metallica. ... Through the Never is the 7th song from Metallicas self-entitle album Metallica. ... Nothing Else Matters is a rock song by heavy metal band Metallica. ... Of Wolf and Man is the ninth song of American heavy metal band Metallicas self-titled, 1991 release (aka The Black Album). ... The God that Failed is a song from Metallicas self-titled album. ... My Friend of Misery is the 11th song from Metallicas self-entitled album Metallica. ... The Struggle Within is the 12th song on Metallicas self-entitled album Metallica. ... Metallica is an American heavy metal band, formed in 1981,[1] which became one of the most commercially successful musical acts of recent decades. ... Metallica (also known as The Black Album because of its largely black and featureless cover) is the fifth album by the band Metallica. ... Combatants American Revolutionaries French Monarchy Dutch Republic Spanish Empire Oneida and Tuscarora tribes Polish volunteers Prussian volunteers Kingdom of Great Britain Hessian mercenaries Iroquois Confederacy Loyalists Commanders George Washington Nathanael Greene Gilbert du Motier Comte de Rochambeau Bernardo de Gálvez Tadeusz KoÅ›ciuszko Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben Sir William... Combatants UN Coalition Republic of Iraq Commanders Norman Schwarzkopf, Peter de la Billière, Khalid bin Sultan, Saleh Al-Muhaya, Mohamed Hussein Tantawi Saddam Hussein Strength 883,863 360,000 Casualties 378 dead, 1,000 wounded 25,000 dead, 75,000 wounded The Gulf War or the Persian Gulf War...

During the instrumental intro In America from the play and film West Side Story is quoted.^[1]. The lyrics also feature a reference to American Revolutionary Patrick Henry's famous quote "give me liberty or give me death" with the line "liberty or death, what we so proudly hail". For The Games song, see Westside Story (song). ... Patrick Henry (May 29, 1736 – June 6, 1799) was a prominent figure in the American Revolution, known and remembered primarily for his stirring oratory. ... Patrick Henrys Treason speech before the House of Burgesses in an 1851 painting by Peter F. Rothermel Give me liberty or give me death is a famous quotation that occurred as the final closing from a speech made by Patrick Henry to the Virginia House of Burgesses in order...

The song has never been performed live by the band. One possible reason is James Hetfield's particular dislike for this song, as revealed in an April 2001 interview with Playboy magazine.^[2] The first issue of Playboy. ...

The song reached #21 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks in the United States, despite never being released as a single. The Mainstream Rock Tracks chart is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music but are not modern rock (that is, alternative) stations, which are counted in the Modern Rock Tracks chart. ...

External links and references

1. ^ AllMetallica song info page. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
2. ^ Playboy April 2001 interview transcript. Retrieved on 2007-02-25. “HETFIELD: There are some songs on there I don't like. Through The Never was a little wacky. Don't Tread on Me, probably not one of my favorite songs musically. Holier Than Thou was one of the sillier songs, more the old style of writing.”