This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
(Nick) Before you're pointing at me,
There is a possibility,
You better turn that finger around
Defense comes easily
So don't you tread on me
Cause I will knock you down
Some days it seems it's not worth it
The fight in me is all gone
And I'm not trying to be perfect
To just get one damn thing done.
Before I lose control
I pick myself up off the floor.
Before you're pointing at me,
There is a possibility,
You better turn that finger around
Defense comes easily
So don't you tread on me
Cause I will knock you down
(SA)
Never come a day that'll solve you
Consequently I could never leave you
In the shadow of those living battleships, I love our canoe
I'm ready for the falls and the still waters we will find our true
(Nick)
Oh there's a clock in my head
And despite what it said
Another one in the wall
We don't agree at all
And this just gives â??em to me
And despite what you see
You must see me as calm, but I don't want to give up.
Before you're pointing at me,
There is a possibility,
You better turn that finger around
Defense comes easily
So don't you tread on me
Cause I will knock you down
Woah
Ohh in the comfort of strangers
You don't see the danger of just letting it flow
This I know.
Before you're pointing at me,
There is a possibility,
You better turn that finger around
Defense comes easily
So don't you tread on me
Cause I will knock you down
There is a possibility,
You better turn that finger around
Defense comes easily
So don't you tread on me
Cause I will knock you down
Some days it seems it's not worth it
The fight in me is all gone
And I'm not trying to be perfect
To just get one damn thing done.
Before I lose control
I pick myself up off the floor.
Before you're pointing at me,
There is a possibility,
You better turn that finger around
Defense comes easily
So don't you tread on me
Cause I will knock you down
(SA)
Never come a day that'll solve you
Consequently I could never leave you
In the shadow of those living battleships, I love our canoe
I'm ready for the falls and the still waters we will find our true
(Nick)
Oh there's a clock in my head
And despite what it said
Another one in the wall
We don't agree at all
And this just gives â??em to me
And despite what you see
You must see me as calm, but I don't want to give up.
Before you're pointing at me,
There is a possibility,
You better turn that finger around
Defense comes easily
So don't you tread on me
Cause I will knock you down
Woah
Ohh in the comfort of strangers
You don't see the danger of just letting it flow
This I know.
Before you're pointing at me,
There is a possibility,
You better turn that finger around
Defense comes easily
So don't you tread on me
Cause I will knock you down
Lyrics submitted by poolhallXjunkie
Don't Tread on Me Lyrics as written by Lars Ulrich James Alan Hetfield
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
I love this song, but I think the demo was a whole lot better.
demo better yes
this is my last comment i swear to god, but yes the demo is better i hate to admit it
The song "Don't Tread On Me" is more or less about civil liberties and government infringing on the rights of us individuals who the government is supposed to serve. In particular this is talking about the United States of America.
The slogan "Don't Tread On Me" comes from the Gadsden Flag, which is a flag that we (America) flew against the British during the revolutionary war and it essentially was one of the first "American" flags.
You can read about this flag, its history, the symbolism on it, what it meant then, what it means today, etc.. all on gadsden.info
That's not a plug, I have nothing to do with the site, but it's just a good site that seems to have the history of that flag and slogan down.
The flag is a yellow/orange background, with a rattlesnake on it, coiled and ready to strike. It basically sends a signal out saying "We don't want trouble, but if you give us some, we'll finish it." It's a warning against Tyranny. The rattlesnake gives fair warning to anyone who approaches, but if someone attempts to attack it, it will strike. It's evident that Hexum understands this with the lyrics "Don't you tread on me, cuz I will knock you down", and "You might see me as calm, but I go off like a bomb."
When America was trying to gain independence from Britain, it was the infringement of rights (freedom of speech, press, religion, bearing arms, taxation without representation, etc..) that they were leaving Britain for. If you go to the above mentioned site they have a much better writeup on it than I could ever put in this.
Today, this flag has a slightly different, yet similar meaning. A lot of Americans fly this flag as a symbol of their LOVE for America, yet their hatred of the infringement on civil liberties that is happening daily by a strong, centralized, FEDERAL government. I love the flag, the song mentioning it, and what it stands for. See the link for a better writeup.
what do you mean the demo? i thought this song wasnt supposed to be released until the 26th? wtf. well, 311 is gonna be on loveline tonight, and hopefully i will get to hear this song
okay i just downloaded the demo, and its like okay, not what i was expecting. and whats the difference between the demo and the real song? WELL all i have to say this songs meaning is obvious, and did you know Metallica has a song with the same name, and it is freaking hott_hawt stuff. yeah this song means like dont fcuk with me or i will fcuk you up, or something along those lines. i thinks its a slap in the face to terrorism
Here's a direct quote from Nick Hexum:
"The title track is about emotional volatility when you feel like your freedom is being encroached upon"
I think the song came about because of nick hexum's liberal and anti-bush nature, and his disgust over Bush being re-elected. I think the "you" in don't you tread on me is anything that makes his freedom feel threatened, like the patriot act, ect.
By the way I like the final version more than the demo. The major difference was that the demo had a rap in it by Nick which I thought was generic and oddly thrown in. It flows much better without it in my opinion.
where can i hear the song on line? i've heard it once and it made me so happy. and where can i hear the demo. wow i feel like such a looser that i dont know where to find it....sorry
id do nick right...
go to 311.com and the song will play automatically as the site's music