Barrett's Privateers

Oh, the year was 1778

How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now

A letter of marque came from the king

To the scummiest vessel I've ever seen

God damn them all! I was told

We'd cruise the seas for American gold

We'd fire no guns, shed no tears

But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier

The last of Barrett's Privateers

Oh, Elcid Barrett cried the town

How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now

For twenty brave men all fishermen who

Would make for him the Antelope's crew

God damn them all! I was told

We'd cruise the seas for American gold

We'd fire no guns, shed no tears

But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier

The last of Barrett's Privateers

The Antelope sloop was a sickening sight

How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now

She'd a list to the port and her sails in rags

And the cook in the scuppers with the staggers and jags

God damn them all! I was told

We'd cruise the seas for American gold

We'd fire no guns, shed no tears

But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier

The last of Barrett's Privateers

On the King's birthday we put to sea

How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now

We were 91 days to Montego Bay

Pumping like madmen all the way

God damn them all! I was told

We'd cruise the seas for American gold

We'd fire no guns, shed no tears

But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier

The last of Barrett's Privateers

On the 96th day we sailed again

How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now

When a bloody great Yankee hove in sight

With our cracked four pounders we made to fight

God damn them all! I was told

We'd cruise the seas for American gold

We'd fire no guns, shed no tears

But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier

The last of Barrett's Privateers

Now the Yankee lay low down with gold

How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now

She was broad and fat and loose in the stays

But to catch her took the Antelope two whole days

God damn them all! I was told

We'd cruise the seas for American gold

We'd fire no guns, shed no tears

But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier

The last of Barrett's Privateers

Then at length we stood two cables away

How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now

Our cracked four pounders made an awful din

But with one fat ball, the Yank stove us in

God damn them all! I was told

We'd cruise the seas for American gold

We'd fire no guns, shed no tears

But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier

The last of Barrett's Privateers

The Antelope shook and pitched on her side

How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now

Barrett was smashed like a bowl of eggs

And the Main truck carried off both me legs

God damn them all! I was told

We'd cruise the seas for American gold

We'd fire no guns, shed no tears

But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier

The last of Barrett's Privateers

So here I lay in my 23rd year

How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now

It's been 6 years since we sailed away

And I just made Halifax yesterday

God damn them all! I was told

We'd cruise the seas for American gold

We'd fire no guns, shed no tears

But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier

The last of Barrett's Privateers