O 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 Chorus: God damn them all I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold We'd fire no guns, shed no tears I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier, The last of Barrett's Privateers O 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 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 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 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 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 I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier, The last of Barrett's Privateers On the ninety-sixth day we sailed again How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now When a great big 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 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 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 I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier, The last of Barrett's Privateers Then at length she 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 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 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 I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier, The last of Barrett's Privateers Now here I lay in me 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 I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier, The last of Barrett's Privateers