Barrett's Privateers - The Corries

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

Ladies and gentlemen, mister Heri Joensen

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