Lyrics
Oh, the year was 1778
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
A letter of mark came from the king
To the scummiest vessel I'd 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
I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers
Well, Elcid Barrett cried the town
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
For 20 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
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 had 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
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
Pumpin' 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
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
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 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
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
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
Well, Barrett was smashed like a bowl of eggs
And the maintruck 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 my 23rd year
How 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
