Oh, 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 d___ 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.

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 d___ 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.

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 jags

God d___ 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 King's birthday we put to sea,
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
We were 91 days to Montego Bay
Pumping like madmen all the way

God d___ 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 96th day we sailed again,
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
When a b_____ great Yankee hove in sight
With our cracked four pounders we made to fight

God d___ 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.

The Yankee lay low down with gold,
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
She was broad and fat and loose in stays
But to catch her took the Antelope two whole days

God d___ 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.

Then at length we 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 d___ 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.

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 Maintruck carried off both me legs

God d___ 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.

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 d___ 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.

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