This slogan first appeared on the
Revolutionary War flag designed by
Christopher Gadsden, who was a
colonel in the Revolutionary
Army. The flag bore a coiled
rattlesnake on a yellow field with the
slogan across the bottom.
The Culpeper Minutemen also took the coiled snake and motto for their ensign, but also added the words "Liberty or Death." The Continental Navy's first flag also bore this slogan, but with a sea snake slithering across a background of thirteen red and white stripes.
Don't Tread on Me is also a political action committee organized in the year 2000. It is an Independent affiliated with the Libertarian Party and stands for free speech, gun rights, legalization, an end to taxation, and an end to the draft, among others. Their website is (http://members.tripod.com/libertynet/pac/).
Probably best known, though, is the song with this title from Metallica's 7th album, which is titled simply Metallica and usually referred to as "The Black Album."
Lyrics
Don't Tread on Me
by Metallica
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
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
Love it or leave it, She with the deadly bite
Quick is the blue tongue, Forked as the lightning strike
Shining with brightness, Always on surveillance
The eyes, They ever close, Emblem of vigilance
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 of 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