Don't tread on me
I said, don't tread on me
Liberty or death, what we so proudly hail
Once you provoke her, rattling of her tail
Never begins it, never, but once engaged
Never surrenders, showing the fangs of rage
I said don't tread on me

So be it
Threaten no more
To secure peace is to prepare for war
So be it
Settle the score
Touch me again for the words that you'll hear evermore
Hey
Don't tread on me

Love it or leave it, she with the deadly bite
Quick is the blue tongue, forked as lighting strike
Shining with brightness, always on surveillance
The eyes, they never close, emblem of vigilance
Ooh no, no, no don't tread on me

So be it
Threaten no more
To secure peace is to prepare for war
So be it
Settle the score
Touch me again for the words that you'll hear evermore
Don't tread on me

So be it
Threaten no more
To secure peace is to prepare for war
Liberty or death, what we so proudly hail
Once you provoke her, rattling on her tail

So be it
Threaten no more
To secure peace is to prepare for war
So be it
Settle the score
Touch me again for the words that you'll hear evermore
Don't tread on me


Lyrics submitted by King Nothing, edited by Saint Arkham, Ashram

Don't Tread On Me Lyrics as written by Lars Ulrich James Alan Hetfield

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Don't Tread On Me song meanings
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  • +3
    General Comment

    American Nationalism is unique in the way that there is a reason behind it. American nationalism, referring to America "back in the days", when you had founding fathers, rebellion against the british, not America anno 2007 when you're sliding into a welfare state with a scary foreign policy.

    As someone just said: A rattlesnake never starts up a fight, but it doesn't tolerate any offences. The "rights" of a rattlesnake may never be violated - or else.

    This song can both mock neocon american nationalism(the bombing kind of nationalism) and support old school american nationalism (the 2nd amendment and gigantic beards kind of nationalism) without being contradictory. The lyrics speaks of what American pride is really about, which is both a satirical mock of what many american "patriots" (or should I say p.a.t.r.i.o.t.) of today think of themselves, AS WELL as a proud song about standing up for liberty.

    What I do like about it is how the rattle-snake is a perfect allegory of the perfect individual: I won't hurt you unless you hurt me; DONT TREAD ON ME.

    arkelon July 13, 2007   Link

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