Barrett’s Privateers

Song: Stan Rogers @ wiki.

Oh the year was seventeen seventy eight.
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 Damn 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.

Chorus

The Antelope sloop was a sickening sight.
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now!
She’d a list to port and her sails in rags,
And a cook in the scuppers with staggers and jags.

Chorus

On the King’s birthday we put to sea.
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now!
We were ninety-one days to Montego bay,
Pumping like madmen all the way.

Chorus

On the ninety-sixth 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 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 twenty-third year.
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now!
It’s been six years since we sailed away,
And I just made Halifax yesterday.

Chorus