{"id":999,"date":"2012-07-11T12:21:06","date_gmt":"2012-07-11T11:21:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.longkeshinsideout.co.uk\/?p=999"},"modified":"2012-07-11T12:21:47","modified_gmt":"2012-07-11T11:21:47","slug":"999","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.longkeshinsideout.co.uk\/?p=999","title":{"rendered":"Get Your Boots On"},"content":{"rendered":"

This poem will probably only hit home to those of a certain age and who were “fortunate” enough to be Compound men.\u00a0 The phrase became part of our every day speak particularly in the early days of political status when we seemed to have showdowns with virtually everyone.\u00a0 Even now nearly forty years later I would hear some of the auld hands joke about getting their boots on.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Get Your Boots On!!<\/strong><\/p>\n

The shout goes up, in a crowded hut–and panic stations begin
\nGet to the gate\u2014stand up straight, and don\u2019t let the bastards in
\nIt\u2019s bed ends out and bellies in and stand in rows of ten
\nNever in doubt, when you heard the shout\u2014Get Your Boots On men!!<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Was the Provies first and the Stickies next-could be screws the very next day
\nIt was Soldiers next and we took some shit and then it was the UDA
\nYou always knew what you had to do and you done it again and again,
\nNever in doubt, when you heard the shout\u2014Get Your Boots On men!!<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

In seventy four we could do no more\u2014there were protests every day
\nNo clean sheets-stopped the visits for weeks and suffered along the way
\nThere were food protests-with just no rest-we were in the lion\u2019s den
\nNever in doubt, when you heard the shout\u2014Get Your Boots On men!!<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Stand to, Stand Down or Stand on your fucking head
\nWhen the Brits smashed in with a terrible din you wished that you were dead
\nJust when you thought that it was all forgot, you took a break\u2014and then
\nNever in doubt, when you heard the shout\u2014Get Your Boots On men!!<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The protests ceased and got our heads some peace and morale got higher and higher
\nOctober came with the autumn rain and the Provies started a fire
\nSo it was back once more\u2014on the floor-Stand by your beds\u2014and then
\nNever in doubt, when you heard the shout\u2014Get Your Boots On men!!<\/p>\n

\"Share\"\/<\/a>