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'd 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 the 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 91 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 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 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