Barrett's Privateers

Oh, the year was 1778

And I wish I was in Sherbrooke now

When a letter of marque came from the king

To the scummiest bucket I've ever seen

Damn them all, I was told

We'd cruise the seas for American gold

We'd fire no guns, shed no tears

I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier

The last of Barrett's privateers

Oh, Elcid Barrett cried the town

And I wish I was in Sherbrooke now

For twenty bold lads, all fishermen who

Could make for him the Antelope's crew

Damn them all, I was told

We'd cruise the seas for American gold

We'd fire no guns, shed no tears

I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier

The last of Barrett's privateers

Oh, the Antelope sloop was a sickening sight

And I wish I was in Sherbrooke now

See the list o' the port with her sails in rags

And the cook in the scuppers with the staggers and jags

Damn them all, I was told

We'd cruise the seas for American gold

We'd fire no guns, shed no tears

I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier

The last of Barrett's privateers

On the king's birthday we put to sea

And I wish I was in Sherbrooke now

We were ninety-one days to Montego Bay

Pumping like madmen all the way

Damn them all, I was told

We'd cruise the seas for American gold

We'd fire no guns, shed no tears

I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier

The last of Barrett's privateers

On the ninety-sixth day we sailed again

And I wish I was in Sherbrooke now

When a bloody great Yankee hove in sight

With our cracked four-pounder we made to fight

Damn them all, I was told

We'd cruise the seas for American gold

We'd fire no guns, shed no tears

I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier

The last of Barrett's privateers

That Yankee lay low, down with gold

And I wish I was in Sherbrooke now

She was broad and fat and loose in the stays

But to catch her took the Antelope three whole days

Damn them all, I was told

We'd cruise the seas for American gold

We'd fire no guns, shed no tears

I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier

The last of Barrett's privateers

At length we stood two cables away

And I wish I was in Sherbrooke now

Our cracked four-pounder made an awful din

But with one round ball the Yank stove us in

Damn them all, I was told

We'd cruise the seas for American gold

We'd fire no guns, shed no tears

I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier

The last of Barrett's privateers

The Antelope pitched and rolled on her side

And 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

I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier

The last of Barrett's privateers

So here I lay in me twenty-third year

And I wish I was in Sherbrooke now

It's been six 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

I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier

The last of Barrett's privateers