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

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 and her sails in rags

and the cook in 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

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 ninety-one 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 ninety-sixth 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 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

now i'm a broken man on a halifax pier

the last of barrett's privateers

so here i lay in my twenty-third 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

now i'm a broken man on a halifax pier

the last of barrett's privateers