[Intro]
On Monday, the 9th of August 1971,
At 4:30 AM in the morning,
Hundreds of Irishmen were taken,
From their homes all over the six counties.

They were then placed in long Kesh concentration camps,
Many without trial and without crime,
This next song is dedicated to those brave Irish men,
Those men, the men behind the wire.

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

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

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

Hear the sobs of crying children,
Dragging fathers from their beds,
Watch the scene as helpless mothers,
Watch the blood fall from their heads.

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

[Verse]
Not for them a judge or jury,
Or indeed a crime at all,
Being Irish means we'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]
Oh, armoured cars and tanks and guns,
Came to take away our sons,
But every man must stand behind,
The men behind the wire.

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

All the people, step together,
Proudly marching on your way,
Never fear and never falter,
Till the boys come home to stay.

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

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