[Intro]
On Monday, the 9th of August 1971, at 4:30 AM,
Irishmen from all over the six countries,
Were taken from their homes
Hundreds of these men were imprisoned without trial,

This next song is born of the civil resistance campaign,
With followed internment,
A song dedicated to the men of Long Kesh concentration camp,
The men behind the wire.

[Chorus]
Armoured cars and tanks and guns,
Came to take away our sons,
But every man will stand behind,
The men behind the wire.

Armoured cars and tanks and guns,
Came to take away our sons,
But every man will stand behind,
The men behind the wire.

[Verse]
Through the little streets of Belfast,
In the dark of early morn,
British soldiers marauding,
Wrecking little homes with scorn.

Heedless of their crying children,
Dragging fathers from their beds,
Beating sons while helpless mothers,
Watched the blood pour from their heads.

[Chorus]
Armoured cars and tanks and guns,
Came to take away our sons,
But every man will stand behind,
The men behind the wire.

Armoured cars and tanks and guns,
Came to take away our sons,
But every man will stand behind,
The men behind the wire.

[Verse]
Not for them a judge nor jury,
Nor indeed a crime at all,
Being Irish means they're guilty,
So we're guilty one and all.

Round the world the truths will echo,
Cromwell's men are here again,
England's name again is sullied,
In the eyes of honest men.

[Chorus]
Armoured cars and tanks and guns,
Came to take away our sons,
But every man will stand behind,
The men behind the wire.

Armoured cars and tanks and guns,
Came to take away our sons,
But every man will stand behind,
The men behind the wire.

[Verse]
Proudly march behind our banner,
Firmly stand behind our men,
We will have them free to help us,
Build a nation once again.

On the people, step together,
Proudly, firmly on their way,
Never fear and never falter,
Till the boys come home to stay.

[Chorus]
Armoured cars and tanks and guns,
Came to take away our sons,
But every man will stand behind,
The men behind the wire.

Armoured cars and tanks and guns,
Came to take away our sons,
But every man will stand behind,
The men behind the wire.

Armoured cars and tanks and guns,
Came to take away our sons,
But every man will stand behind,
The men behind the wire.