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'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 her sails in rags And the cook in 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 91 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 96th 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 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 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 Maintruck 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.
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 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.