Barrett’s Privateers

Lyrics

[Verse 1] 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'd ever seen [Chorus] 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 [Verse 2] 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 [Chorus] 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 [Verse 3] 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 [Chorus] 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 [Solo] [Verse 4] 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 [Chorus] 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 [Verse 5] 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 [Chorus] 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 [Verse 6] 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 [Chorus] 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 Ladies and gentlemen, mister Heri Joensen [Solo] [Verse 7] 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 [Chorus] 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 [Verse 8] 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 [Chorus] 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 [Verse 9] 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 [Outro] 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