INFANTRY COLUMNS
We're foot—slog—slog—slog—sloggin' over Africa —
Foot—foot—foot—foot—sloggin' over Africa —
(Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin' up an' down again!)
There's no discharge in the war!
Seven—six—eleven—five—nine-an'-twenty mile to-day —
Four—eleven—seventeen—thirty-two the day before —
(Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin' up an' down again!)
There's no discharge in the war!
Don't—don't—don't—don't—look at what's in front of you.
(Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin' up an' down again);
Men—men—men—men—men go mad with watchin' em,
An' there's no discharge in the war!
Try—try—try—try—to think o' something different —
Oh—my—God—keep—me from goin' lunatic!
(Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin' up an' down again!)
There's no discharge in the war!
Count—count—count—count—the bullets in the bandoliers.
If—your—eyes—drop—they will get atop o' you!
(Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin' up an' down again) —
There's no discharge in the war!
We—can—stick—out—'unger, thirst, an' weariness,
But—not—not—not—not the chronic sight of 'em —
Boot—boots—boots—boots—movin' up an' down again,
An' there's no discharge in the war!
'Taint—so—bad—by—day because o' company,
But night—brings—long—strings—o' forty thousand million
Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin' up an' down again.
There's no discharge in the war!
I—'ave—marched—six—weeks in 'Ell an' certify
It—is—not—fire—devils, dark, or anything,
But boots—boots—boots—boots—movin' up an' down again,
An' there's no discharge in the war!
Notes
In order to encourage comments on the poetry rather than the song we offer this information.
A reprint of the original sheet music to Boots for solo voice (also apparently available for male chorus) by Peter Dawson (J.P. McCall) is published by Faber Music Ltd. in England, and is available through FM Distribution LTD at +44 (0) 1279 82 89 89 (trade@fmdistribution.com). A phenomenal recording of Boots by the great American baritone Leonard Warren is included in "Leonard Warren: Opera Arias and Concert Songs" and is available on DVD from Amazon.com.
Try them for music and us for poetry
Leave a guest comment (subject to review)
Comments
1 - 6 of 6
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The Bearded One
From guest Eric (contact)
I attended the training in 93, and have never gotten this poem out of my mind. I decided to see if I could find it on line. I end up finding out that there are others who want to find it for the same reason, amazing. -
Boots...
From guest allen (contact)
I too am searching for a recording of this poem. The "boots" that you remember during your training was recorded by one of the civilian instructors. When the guy admitted to being the voice, it sent shivers down my spine. -
I have it!
From guest dante gumucio (contact)
A reprint of the original sheet music to Boots for solo voice (also apparently available for male chorus) by Peter Dawson (J.P. McCall) is published by Faber Music Ltd. in England, and is available through FM Distribution LTD at +44 (0) 1279 82 89 89 (trade@fmdistribution.com). A phenomenal recording of Boots by the great American baritone Leonard Warren is included in "Leonard Warren: Opera Arias and Concert Songs" and is available on DVD from Amazon.com. -
To guest Wesley and many others
This poem has been sung by many classical, folk and pop artists. It has been set to music by different people at different times and is available I believe on LP, tape and CD.
A search of Boots Kipling song music on most internet search engines will show results by the thousand. If it is an Australian your after it is probably J. P. McCall. My own favourite for adapting Kipling was Peter Bellamey but choose anyone from Elgar downward.
But remember --- It was written to be spoken and, judging by the internal rhythm of the words, spoken at a marching pace. -
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audio
From guest wesley (contact)
where can i find the person who sung this song or poem ..i heard it in training and it will never leave my head and would realy love to find the audio..thank you -
searching
From guest michael (contact)
i have been searching to find the audio of this poem it was done by a female please any help would be great -
From guest ab (contact)
i will never forget this poem... curled up, shivering, in a pool of my own urine... i thought i was supposed to have a bucket.. no such luck. -
My box
From guest Eric (contact)
I listened to this poem read by a screaming man for 18 hrs during the most demanding military training I've ever been involved in. It has left a lasting impression on me. -
From guest MJH (contact)
A little cell, some doubt, a board and bucket. Boot—boots—boots—boots. I remember the Wail-wail-wail too. Maybe it was just me. Who recorded that version -
Over and over and over
From guest David (contact)
As a recent grad, I can tell you that they def still play it over and over again. It was easily the one piece of "music" that affected me the most while I sat for countless hours with my thoughts. I felt compelled to find it after my repatriation. What a miserable experience.... -
More exposure than most
From guest Dennis Fipps (contact)
I've also been through the survival training which several of you have commented about. In fact, I went directly from that training to being an instructor. So I heard the poem on a regular basis for about a year. Small wonder that some of the instructors were just a little off plumb. I'm pretty sure the recording they use is original and unaltered. Maddening, none the less. -
The rhythmic tramp of the foot soldier beats through this poem like a metronome. The `mindless` games of counting miles and trying to think of anything except the immediate surroundings to avoid imminent madness.
Did not get the line `But night-brings-long-strings-o` forty thousand million.` Forty thousand million of what? Thoughts or mosquitos? -
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As a maths teacher I love the second verse with its two addition sums showing how the day's march was broken up into seperate stages.
As a former serviceman I can also appreciate the repetitious monotony he gave to the rhythm just like the plodding one foot in front of another after a long day's trek.
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Fear.
From guest aaron (contact)
They played this in my survival school when i was locked in a cage. They played it over and over again. scarey. -
Have loved it for over 40 years
I first heard this poem as the song sung by Nelson Eddy. When I was a teenager, we had a record player (yowza, that make me sound old!) but the only records we had were old 78's that my mom had. She had a few by Nelson Eddy and I fell in love with his voice and have since bought copies of all of his movies. I found out later that Boots was actually a poem by Kipling. Had I read the poem first, I am not sure what I would have thought. Nelson Eddy also recorded a song from another of Kiplings poems, "Route Marchin". In adddition to the old 78's I bought a CD, I think on eBay, about 4 or 5 years ago that included him singing Boots. I just searched on eBay and there are 27 CD's and records with Nelson Eddy singing "Boots"! -
Classic
I too would love to know the origin of that very strange recording. It has been 8 or 9 years since my "war criminal" days, but the poem always evokes strong memories. Quick question for you more recent grads-- in my memory, I thought some of the verses in the recording were altered and/or had things added. I thought there was a verse that started out: "Wail!-- Wail!-- Wail!..." Did I dream that up (quite possible) or does anyone else remember differences between the recording and the original poem? -
boots boots boots.....i\'ll never forget it
this poem effected my life greatly. im not sure exactly if it is a bad thing or a good thing. but during some pretty intense military training this poem was played over and over and over again for more than 2 days. i think that if a person were to listen to this under the right conditions (or wrong) that in a realitively short period of time they would probably go insane. -
classic
Compelling with a great metre. What is the actual history of this poem?
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