Oh, the year was 1778,
("How I wish I was in Sherbrook now!")
A letter of mark came from the King
To the scummiest vessel I’ve 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 Peer,
The last of Barrett’s Privateers.
Oh, Elcid Barrett cried the town
("How I wish I was in Sherbrook now!")
For twenty brave men all fisherman 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 Peer,
The last of Barrett’s Privateers.
The "Antelope" sloop was a sickening sight
("How I wish I was in Sherbrook now!")
She'd a list to the port and her sails in rags
And the cook in the scuppers with the staggers and 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 Peer,
The last of Barrett’s Privateers.
On the king’s birthday we put to sea
("How I wish I was in Sherbrook now!")
We were ninety one days to Montigo 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 Peer,
The last of Barrett’s Privateers.
On the ninety sixth day we sailed again
("How I wish I was in Sherbrook 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 man on a Halifax Peer,
The last of Barrett’s Privateers.
The Yankee lay low down with gold
( "How I wish I was in Sherbrook now!")
She was broad and fat and loose in stays
But to catch her took the Antelope two whole days.
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 Peer,
The last of Barrett’s Privateers.
Then at length we stood two cables away
("How I wish I was in Sherbrook now!")
Our cracked four-pounders made an awful din
But with one fat ball the Yank stove us in
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 Peer,
The last of Barrett’s Privateers.
The Antelope shook and pitched on her side
("How I wish I was in Sherbrook now!")
Barrett was smashed like a bowl of eggs
And the maintruck carried off both me legs.
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 Peer,
The last of Barrett’s Privateers.
So here I lay in my twenty-third year
("How I wish I was in Sherbrook now!")
It’s been six years since I sailed away
And I just made Halifax yesterday
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 Peer,
The last of Barrett’s Privateers.