ringleader reads Boots by Rudyard Kipling

Saw the new 28 Years Later trailer and was especially struck by its use of a reading of “Boots” by Rudyard Kipling. Kipling wrote the poem in 1903 about the Second Boer War. The narration used in the trailer was recorded by Taylor Holmes in 1915.

As I looked into the poem, I discovered that the Holmes recording has been used by U.S. military Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) training. There are accounts online of the recording being played on loop for hours upon hours as a feature of psychological resistance training to such torture tactics.

So naturally I recorded Kipling’s piece myself.

I dedicate this reading to world peace and everyone whose life resonates with this poem in any way.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

I hope you enjoy.

Boots by Rudyard Kipling (1903)

We're foot—slog—slog—slog—sloggin' over Africa
Foot—foot—foot—foot—sloggin' over Africa --
(Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin' up and 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 and 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!
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 and 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!
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!