The opening of West Side Story is interpolated in Metallica's “Don't Tread on Me” on The Black Album.
The song's intro uses the melody of “America,” a number composed by Leonard Bernstein for the musical West Side Story. The reference appears before the song moves into Metallica's own heavy arrangement and lyrics.
This connection is easy to miss because the interpolation is brief and presented in a rock context rather than as a theatrical quotation. “America” itself is one of West Side Story's best-known musical numbers and is associated with debate over life in the United States.
“Don't Tread on Me” also connects to the album's artwork: the title refers to the motto on the Gadsden flag, whose snake appears on the cover. It was sent to rock radio but was not released as a commercial single.