“Don’t Tread on Me” contains an intro interpolating Leonard Bernstein’s “America” from West Side Story.
The song appears on Metallica’s 1991 self-titled album and takes its title from the “Don’t Tread on Me” motto associated with the Gadsden flag. Its lyrics express a strongly patriotic theme, making the musical reference to an American-themed section of West Side Story especially notable.
The interpolation appears in the introduction rather than as a full cover of Bernstein’s composition. Metallica incorporated the recognizable melodic idea into a heavy metal setting, then moved into the song’s original riffs and vocal sections.
“Don’t Tread on Me” was sent to rock radio after the album’s release but was not issued as a commercial single. That distinguishes it from the five official singles: “Enter Sandman,” “The Unforgiven,” “Nothing Else Matters,” “Wherever I May Roam,” and “Sad but True.”