Scots Wha Hae Been Robbed

Men of Jockland, whaur ye be
rise oot o’ sleepless beds
An’ tak’ the airms o’ haunless men
an’ pull them frae their steeds.
For these gaunt chiels wi’ chisels sharp
tae cut for their intent
Wad carve an’ shape yer warldly hoors
an’ gar ye pay them rent.

They’re comin’ noo in limousines
an’ daein’ whit they like
Tak’ my advice, ye’ll hae tae loup
like cuddies ower a dyke
An’ tak’ the lairds an’ renegades
an’ haud them ower a cask
Until they let ye walk in peace
frae Lairg tae Balnagask

They’re worthless men an’ sichtless men
that have come intae yer land,
Frae Glasgow an’ frae London
or even close at hand.
An’ they would tell ye whaur ye’d walk
an’ lay doon streets an’ laws.
They’ll steal yer parks an’ burn yer ricks
an’ cut yer trees wi’ saws.
They’ll mak’ yer days like lang, lang nichts,
yer nichts like burnin’ pitch.
Creosote will sting yer een
wi’ detergent soaps ye’ll itch.
I tell ye noo, the factory wa’s
will swallow up yer kin
For naeb’dy ever cam’ oot the same
as ever entered in.
Yer bairns’ll dee a bastard’s death
as lorries rin them ower
While architects’ll scheme an’ plan
tae raise up Babel’s tower.

Plastic cups an’ paper bags
will tummel doon the burns,
An’ tractor boots’ll bash the heid
o’ ony worm that turns.
The death o’ life a’ these men,
the brazen magnates, seek,
Wi’ traction engines an’ wild machines
that roar an’ whine an’ creak.
The crops will fail, the whins’ll wilt
an’ preachers still will preach,
Though only tales o’ oil-wells
 an’ glories oot o’ reach.

© BH 1972

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Years later, I dig this up out of my cyber-dustbin. Into the present time of upheaval. But then, the sentiments still seem to fit. Remember 1972. The year of Bloody Sunday, the Miners' Strike, Nixon met Mao in China, the Club of Rome published 'Limits to Growth', the Vietnam War was still going on, Black Panthers arrested at a Central Park concert (for Hair!), Genocide in Burundi (half a million dead), general election in Italy, the International Money Market (futures exchange) was launched, Dallas Cowboys beat Miami Dolphins in the Super Bowl.

Over forty years and bugger-all has changed. Jeez-oh…