The Maisters, words by Howard Purdie
from his play 'Something In The Stars'
Transcribed as best I can from the album
'Kathryn Tickell & Ensemble Mystical'.

[ Come my brothers and my sisters,
pull your forelocks for the maisters,
seek'a the skaith* that comes a'reavin',
whae sheathed their swords and took tae weavin'.
Today it is the same as ever borderers selt doon the river.

The maisters treated us like bowfuls*,
they locked our minds in iron shackles,
oor kith and kin endured the heartache,
the lasses had tae learn tae curtsey.
Today it is the same as ever borderers selt doon the river.

To seek a job abound the neighbour,
where laddies had tae beg for favour,
the maister's faced wi' a recession,
would shed our jobs at their discression.
Today it is the same as ever borderers selt doon the river.

The mills are run by modern reavers,
wha' dinna' gi'e a cloot* for weavers,
they reap their riches and their titles,
they draw the blood frae oot our vitals.
Today it is the same as ever borderers selt doon the river.

They draw the blood then quit the weavin',
their families cannae get a livin',
there is nae dole that can deliver,
the joys of life we used to savour.
Today it is the same as ever borderers selt doon the river.

Come my brothers and my sisters, pull your forelocks for the maisters. ]

*Skaith/Skaed - Shetland term for harm (scathe).
*Bowfuls - possible derrivation of Bowfin, meaning smelly.
(that's my best guess anyway)
*Reavin'/reavers/reivers - cross border raiders, cattle rustlers etc.
*Cloot - cloth or rag.