[Spoken: We would sing this when they didn't pay us on time. Ten, eleven, twelve (days) would pass and suddenly it was the fifteenth day of the month and they still hadn't paid us. So we would check when the owner was coming to the mill. He and the director would walk back and forth and talk about their business and then, one of us would begin:]

Master, Sir, with your bag behind you
give us the money [Spoken: we would follow the rhythm of the reels]that we have earned

[Spoken: and someone would play the part of the owner:] wait a week ...
and I will give it to you all at once
[Spoken: and all of us together:] but we want it now ...

[Spoken: and then him:] Marietta, dear, I have to make a profit

you've already made a profit
give us the money
that we have earned.

MASTER, SIR, WITH YOUR BAG BEHIND YOU

Song of protest

The subject of this song is the workers' demand to be paid by the owner on time. It bears witness to a less paternalistic view of the owner, and to the workers' greater awareness of economic.

Credits: Interviste realizzate da Daniele Lavelli, Emanuele Manzoni e Paolo Pioltelli (luglio-ottobre 2015). Regia, riprese e montaggio di Paolo Pioltelli.