Lyrics

Barrett’s Privateers

Oh, the year was 1778,
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now!
A letter of marque come from the king,
To the scummiest vessel I’d ever seen

(Chorus)
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 (Chorus)

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 scuppers with the staggers and the jags (Chorus)

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 mad-men all the way (Chorus)

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 (Chorus)

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 (Chorus)

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 (Chorus)

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 (Chorus)

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 (Chorus)

Song Notes

“Barrett’s Privateers” is a modern folk song written and performed by Canadian musician Stan Rogers, having been inspired after a song session with the Friends of Fiddler’s Green at the Northern Lights Festival Boréal in Sudbury, Ontario.

These lyrics and more can be found on the Fogarty’s Cove Music website:  http://stanrogers.net/the-music/song-archive/barretts-privateers/