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.