Don't Tread On Me Lyrics

Lyric discussion by Adeori 

Cover art for Don't Tread On Me lyrics by Metallica

Liberty or death, what we so proudly hail. “Give me liberty or give me death.” - Patrick Henry Once you provoke her, rattling of her tail “The use of the eastern diamondback rattlesnake as a symbol of the American colonies can be traced back to the publications of Benjamin Franklin. In 1751, he made the first reference to the rattlesnake in a satirical commentary published in his Pennsylvania Gazette. It had been the policy of Britain to send convicted criminals to America, and Franklin suggested that they thank the British by sending rattlesnakes to England.” Never begins it, never, but once engaged... Never surrenders, showing the fangs of rage -Benjamin Franklin's "Join or Die" propaganda (“to encourage American colonists to unite against British rule.”)

Dont tread on me “The first Marines that enlisted were from Philadelphia and they carried drums painted yellow, depicting a coiled rattlesnake with thirteen rattles, and the motto "Don't Tread On Me." This was the first mention of the Gadsden flag's symbolism.”

“Col. Gadsden presented to the Congress an elegant standard, such as is to be used by the commander in chief of the American navy; being a yellow field, with a lively representation of a rattle-snake in the middle, in the attitude of going to strike, and these words underneath, "Don't Tread on Me!"” (The cover of the album features the snake used)

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...

Dont tread on me

Love it or live it, she with the deadly bite “...even when those weapons are shewn and extended for her defence, they appear weak and contemptible; but their wounds however small, are decisive and fatal...” - Benjamin Franklin Quick is the blue tongue, forked as lighting strike Shining with brightness, always on surveillance The eyes, they never close, emblem of vigilance “I recollected that her eye excelled in brightness, that of any other animal, and that she has no eye-lids–She may therefore be esteemed an emblem of vigilance.” - Benjamin Franklin

Dont tread on me

So be it Threaten no more To secure peace is to prepare for war “To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace.” - George Washington

So be it Settle the score Touch me again for the words that you'll hear evermore...

Dont 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...

Dont tread on me

someone else i can completely agree with you and seeba have it right... i dont know how anyone could think this song is anti-american...

seewa

@Adeori ; @no bullshit It is kind of sad that the highest rated comment on this song states that this is pro-"American" patriotism when the opposite is so permeating in the lyrics. Metallica as a band are pacifists, for example see the song One. When the lyrics state that "to secure peace is to prepare to war" it is a dystopian ridiculing of a too true fact of American politics. War is a quick mean to end a conflict, but not a stable way to preserve peace in the long run. And in the end that is really what Don't Tread...