Which Metallica album track begins with a melody interpolated from Leonard Bernstein's “America”?
Answer
Don't Tread on Me
“Don't Tread on Me” is the Metallica album track that begins with a melody interpolated from Leonard Bernstein's “America.”
Bernstein composed “America” for the musical West Side Story. Metallica used the melody in the introduction to “Don't Tread on Me,” creating a brief musical connection between the band's heavy-metal record and a famous theatrical score.
The song's title also connects to the album artwork. The cover includes a coiled snake derived from the Gadsden flag, whose motto is “Don't Tread on Me.” The song and visual design therefore share a deliberately recognizable American historical reference.
Although the track was sent to rock radio, it was not released as a commercial single. That distinction separates it from the five official commercial singles associated with the album.