[Verse 1]

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've 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

[Verse 2]

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]

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

[Verse 3]

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 the scuppers with the staggers and jags

[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

[Verse 4]

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]

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

[Verse 5]

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]

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

[Verse 6]

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]

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

[Verse 7]

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]

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

[Verse 8]

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 truck carried off both me legs

[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

[Verse 9]

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]

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