If in Viet-Nam you enjoyed the right Of taking off your smelly boots at night You kept them close to you, lest they march away You didn’t want to be barefoot at break of day
Then when some idiot yelled “Boots and saddles!” (He’d seen too many films, and was somewhat addled) (True, “saddles” and “addled” don’t really rhyme) You checked for scorpions every old time
Though now your uniforms are ties and suits You always check for scorpions in your boots
Read the scorpions in the last line as a metaphor.