Oh, the year was 1778, how I wish I was in sherbrooke now!
A letter of marque come 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 main trunk 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