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Oh, the year was seventeen seventy-eight,
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 the 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 ninety-one 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 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.
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 Yankee lay low down 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 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 pier,
The last of Barrett's Privateers.
Then at length she stood two cables away,
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke 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 pier,
The 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 eggs,
And the main truck 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 pier,
The last of Barrett's Privateers.
Now here I lay in my twenty-third year,
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now!
It's been six long years since we 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 pier,
The last of Barrett's Privateers.
See more songs by Stan Rogers.
The YouTube video above features a variant by the Irish Descendants (Gypsies & Lovers, trk#3, 1994, WEA, Scarborough, ON); and (So Far So Good: The Best Of The Irish Descendants, trk#11, 1999, Warner Music Canada Ltd., Scarborough, ON).
See more songs by the Irish Descendants.
A variant was also arranged and recorded by Sons Of Erin (The Sons Of Erin. Volume 1, Alive 'N' Kickin', trk#,12, 1991, Erinson Music, St. John's, NL, distributed by Duckworth Distribution).
See more songs by Sons Of Erin.
This song also has a parody titled Garnet's Home Made Beer by Ian Robb.
The YouTube video below features an excellent cover performance by Jesse Ferguson.
