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 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 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