Barrett's Privateers
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
Goddamn them all
I was told
We'd cruse 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
Oh Euclid 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
Goddamn them all
I was told
We'd cruse 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
The Antelope sloop was a sickening sight
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
She'd a-list to the port and her sails in rags
And the cook in the scuppers with the staggers and jags
Goddamn them all
I was told
We'd cruse 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
On the king's birthday we put to sea
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
We were ninty-one days to Montego Bay
Pumping like madmen all the way
Goddamn them all
I was told
We'd cruse 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
On the ninethy-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
Goddamn them all
I was told
We'd cruse 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
The Yankee lay low down with gold
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
She was broad and fat and loose with stays
But to catch her took the Antelope two whole days
Goddamn them all
I was told
We'd cruse 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
Then at length we stood two cables away
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
Our cracked four-pounders made an aweful din
But with one fat ball the Yank stove us in
Goddamn them all
I was told
We'd cruse 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
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
Goddamn them all
I was told
We'd cruse 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
So here I lay in the twenty-third year
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
It's been six years since we sailed away
And I just made Halifax yesterday
Goddamn them all
I was told
We'd cruse 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
Slowly:
I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier (hold it)
The last of Barrett's privateeeeeerrrrssss (go wild on the C)