Don't Tread on Me (Metallica song)
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| “Don't Tread On Me” | |||||
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| Single by Metallica from the album Metallica |
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| Released | 1991 | ||||
| Recorded | October 1990 - June 1991 at One on One Recording, Los Angeles, California | ||||
| Genre | Heavy metal, Thrash metal | ||||
| Length | 3:59 | ||||
| Label | Elektra Records | ||||
| Writer(s) | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich |
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| Producer | Bob Rock James Hetfield Lars Ulrich |
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| Metallica singles chronology | |||||
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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 the title is connected with the American Revolutionary War. The words "Don't Tread On Me" constitute motto of the Gadsden flag, and the snake image on the flag is pictured on the cover of the album. The rhythmic timing played by the guitars, bass and drums gives the song a somewhat "militaristic" sound.
During the instrumental intro, America from the play and film West Side Story is sampled.[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."
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] where Hetfield stated: "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."
The song reached #21 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks in the United States, despite never being released as a single there.
[edit] References
- ^ AllMetallica song info page. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ Playboy April 2001 interview transcript. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
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