Barrett's Privateers

Oh, the year was 1778, how I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
A letter of marque come 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
Now 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
Now 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 scuppers with the staggers and the jags

God damn them all
I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold
We'd fire no guns, shed no tears
Now 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
Now 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
Now 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 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
Now 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
Now 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 trunk 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
Now 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
Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's privateers