Oh, the year was 1778
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
When a letter of marque come from the King
To the scummiest vessel I'd ever seen
God damn them all
I was told we'd sail the seas for American gold
We'd fire no gun, shed no tear
Well 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 up for the Antelope's crew
God damn them all
I was told we'd sail the seas for American gold
We'd fire no gun, shed no tear
Well I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's privateers
Now the Antelope she 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 shakes and the jags
God damn them all
I was told we'd sail the seas for American gold
We'd fire no gun, shed no tear
Well I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's privateers
And on the King's birthday we sail away
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
We were 97 days to Montego Bay
Pumping like madmen all the way
God damn them all
I was told we'd sail the seas for American gold
We'd fire no gun, shed no tear
Well I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's privateers
On the 98th day we sailed again
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
When big fat American hove in sight
With our cracked four pounders, made to fight
God damn them all
I was told we'd sail the seas for American gold
We'd fire no gun, shed no tear
Well 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 big and fat and loose at the stays
But to catch her took us 3 whole days
God damn them all
I was told we'd sail the seas for American gold
We'd fire no gun, shed no tear
Well I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's privateers
Well at last we stood two cables away
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
Our cracked four pounders made an awful din
But with an American ball come staved us in
God damn them all
I was told we'd sail the seas for American gold
We'd fire no gun, shed no tear
Well I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's privateers
Now the antelope shook and she pitched on her side
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
Well Barrett was smashed like a bowl of eggs
And the main truck took off both my legs
God damn them all
I was told we'd sail the seas for American gold
We'd fire no gun, shed no tear
Well I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's privateers
So here I lay in my 23rd year
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
It's been 6 years since we sailed away
And I just made Halifax yesterday
God damn them all
I was told we'd sail the seas for American gold
We'd fire no gun, shed no tear
Well I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's privateers
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
I was told we'd sail the seas for American gold
We'd fire no gun, shed no tear
Well I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
And you'll never find a better man far or near
I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's privateers
Barrett's Privateers Lyrics performed by The Real McKenzies are property and copyright of the authors, artists and labels. You should note that Barrett's Privateers Lyrics performed by The Real McKenzies is only provided for educational purposes only and if you like the song you should buy the CD