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 d*** 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 d*** 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 and her sails in rags
And the cook in the scuppers with the staggers and jags
God d*** 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 d*** 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 b***** great Yankee hove in sight
With our cracked four pounders we made to fight
God d*** 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 Yankee lay low down with gold,
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
She was broad and fat and loose in stays
But to catch her took the Antelope two whole days
God d*** 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 d*** 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 Maintruck carried off both me legs
God d*** 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 d*** 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.
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 d*** 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 d*** 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 and her sails in rags
And the cook in the scuppers with the staggers and jags
God d*** 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 d*** 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 b***** great Yankee hove in sight
With our cracked four pounders we made to fight
God d*** 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 Yankee lay low down with gold,
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
She was broad and fat and loose in stays
But to catch her took the Antelope two whole days
God d*** 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 d*** 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 Maintruck carried off both me legs
God d*** 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 d*** 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.