Barrett’s Privateers

Lyrics

[Verse 1: Jonathan Young] Oh, the year was 1778 How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now Oh, a letter of marque came from the king To the scummiest vessel I'd ever seen [Refrain: Jonathan Young] God damn them all [Chorus: Jonathan Young] I was told we'd sail the seas For American gold We'd fire no gun Shed no tears Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's privateers [Verse 2: Annapantsu] 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 crеw [Refrain: Annapantsu] God damn them all [Chorus: Annapantsu] I was told we'd sail the sеas For American gold We'd fire no guns Shed no tears Well I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's privateers [Verse 3: RichaadEB] And 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 The cook in the scuppers with the shakes and the jags [Refrain: RichaadEB] God damn them all [Chorus: RichaadEB] I was told we'd sail the seas For American gold We'd fire no guns Shed no tears But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's privateers [Verse 4: Caleb Hyles] On the king's birthday we put to sail How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now We were ninety-one days from Montego bay We were pumping like madmen all the way [Refrain: Caleb Hyles] God damn them all [Chorus: Caleb Hyles] I was told we'd cruise the seas For American gold We'd fire no guns Shed no tears But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's privateers [Verse 5: Colm R. McGuinness] 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 [Refrain: Colm R. McGuinness] God damn them all [Chorus: Colm R. McGuinness] 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: Peyton Parrish] That Yankee, she lay low 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 us three whole days [Refrain: Peyton Parrish] God damn them all [Chorus: Peyton Parrish] I was told we'd sail the seas For American gold We'd fire no guns Shed no tears But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's privateers [Instrumental Break] [Bridge: Jonathan Young] Oh, the Antelope shook and she pitched on her side How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now Oh, Barrett was smashed like a bowl of eggs And the main shot carried off both me legs [Refrain: Jonathan Young] God damn them all [Chorus: Jonathan Young] I was told we'd cruise the seas For American gold We'd fire no gun Shed no tears Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's privateers