Lyrics of Barrett's privateers

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 to 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 and 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 main trunk 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.