Lyrics

[Verse 1] Oh, the year was 1778 How I wish I was in Edinburgh now! A letter of mark 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 I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's privateers [Verse 2] Well, Elcid Barrett cried the town How I wish I was in Edinburgh now! For twenty brave men all fisherman 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 I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's privateers [Verse 3] The Antelope's sloop was a sickening sight How I wish I was in Edinburgh now! She had a list to the port and her sails in rags And the cook in the scuppers with the staggers and 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 I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's privateers [Verse 4] On the King's birthday we put to sea How I wish I was in Edinburgh now! It was ninety one 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 I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's privateers [Verse 5] On the ninety sixth day we sailed again How I wish I was in Edinburgh 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 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 Edinburgh now! She was broad and fat and loose in 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 I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's privateers [Verse 7] Then at length we stood two cables away How I wish I was in Edinburgh 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 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 Edinburgh now! Well Barrett was smashed like a bowl of eggs And the main truck 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 I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's privateers [Verse 9] So here I sit in my twenty-third year How I wish I was in Edinburgh now! It's been six years since I sailed away And I just made Halifax yesterday [Chorus] 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