Barrett's Privateers

Ohh, 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've ever seen

God damn them all
I was told we'd sail the seas for American gold
We'd fire no gun
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 sail the seas for American gold
We'd fire no guns
Shed no tears
Well, I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers

Oh, the Antelope's sloop was a sickening sight
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
She'd list to the ports and her sails in rags
The cook in the scuppers with the shakes and the jags

God damn them all
I was told we'd sail the seas for American gold
We'd fire no guns
Shed no tears
And 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
We were 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
But 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
I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers

That Yankee she lay low 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 us three whole days

God damn them all
I was told we'd sail the seas for American gold
We'd fire no guns
Shed no tears
Well, I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers

Oh, the Antelope shook and she pitched on her side
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
Oh, 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 gun
Shed no tears
Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers



Credits
Writer(s): Stanley Rogers
Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com

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