Stan Rogers - Barrett's Privateers Lyrics
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 goldWe'd fire no guns-shed no tearsNow I'm a broken man on a Halifax pierThe 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 whoWould make for him the Antelope's crewGod damn them all!I was told we'd cruise the seas for American goldWe'd fire no guns-shed no tearsNow I'm a broken man on a Halifax pierThe 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 ragsAnd the cook in scuppers with the staggers and the jagsGod damn them all!I was told we'd cruise the seas for American goldWe'd fire no guns-shed no tearsNow I'm a broken man on a Halifax pierThe 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 BayPumping like madmen all the wayGod damn them all!I was told we'd cruise the seas for American goldWe'd fire no guns-shed no tearsNow I'm a broken man on a Halifax pierThe 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 sightWith our cracked four pounders we made to fightGod damn them all!I was told we'd cruise the seas for American goldWe'd fire no guns-shed no tearsNow I'm a broken man on a Halifax pierThe 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 staysBut to catch her took the Antelope two whole daysGod damn them all!I was told we'd cruise the seas for American goldWe'd fire no guns-shed no tearsNow I'm a broken man on a Halifax pierThe 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 dinBut with one fat ball the Yank stove us inGod damn them all!I was told we'd cruise the seas for American goldWe'd fire no guns-shed no tearsNow I'm a broken man on a Halifax pierThe 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 eggsAnd the Main trunk carried off both me legsGod damn them all!I was told we'd cruise the seas for American goldWe'd fire no guns-shed no tearsNow I'm a broken man on a Halifax pierThe 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 awayAnd I just made Halifax yesterdayGod damn them all!I was told we'd cruise the seas for American goldWe'd fire no guns-shed no tearsNow I'm a broken man on a Halifax pierThe last of Barrett's Privateers
