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lyrics from Cantaria on Chivalry.com. There’s a good breakdown of all the names and places in this song for the interested posted there.
Barrett's Privateers
by Stan Rogers
Oh, the [G] year was seventeen [D] seventy [G] eight,
( “How I [G] wish I [C] was in [G] Sherbrook [D] now!”)
A [G] letter of [D] marque came [G] from the King
To the scummiest vessel I’d [D] ever [C] seen.
Refrain:
God [D] damn them [G] all!
[G] I was [C] told we’d [G] cruise the [C] seas for [G] American [C] gold
We’d [D] fire no [G] guns, [D] shed no [C] tears.
I’m a [G] broken [C] man on a [G] Halifax [C] Pier,
The last of Barrett’s [D] Priva- [G] teers.
Oh, Elcid Barrett cried the town
( “How I wish I was in Sherbrook now!”)
For twenty brave men all fisherman who
Would make for him the “Antelope’s” crew
The “Antelopes” sloop was a sickening sight
( “How I wish I was in Sherbrook now!”)
She had a list to the port and her sails in rags
And the cook in the scuppers with the staggers and jags
On the king’s birthday we put to sea
(“How I wish I was in Sherbrook now!”)
It was ninety one days to Montego Bay
Pumping like madmen all the way
On the ninety sixth day we sailed again
( “How I wish I was in Sherbrook now!”)
When a bloody great Yankee hove in sight
With our cracked four-pounders we made to fight.
Oh, the Yankee lay low down with gold
( “How I wish I was in Sherbrook now!”)
She was broad and fat and loose in stays
But to catch her took the Antelope two whole days.
Then at length we stood two cables away
( “How I wish I was in Sherbrook now!”)
Our cracked four-pounders made an awful din
But with one fat ball the Yank stove us in
The Antelope shook and pitched on her side
( “How I wish I was in Sherbrook now!”)
Well Barrett was smashed like a bowl of eggs
And the Maintruck carried off both me legs.
So here I lay in my twenty-third year
( “How I wish I was in Sherbrook now!”)
It’s been six years since we sailed away
And I just made Halifax yesterday
( “How I [G] wish I [C] was in [G] Sherbrook [D] now!”)
A [G] letter of [D] marque came [G] from the King
To the scummiest vessel I’d [D] ever [C] seen.
Refrain:
God [D] damn them [G] all!
[G] I was [C] told we’d [G] cruise the [C] seas for [G] American [C] gold
We’d [D] fire no [G] guns, [D] shed no [C] tears.
I’m a [G] broken [C] man on a [G] Halifax [C] Pier,
The last of Barrett’s [D] Priva- [G] teers.
Oh, Elcid Barrett cried the town
( “How I wish I was in Sherbrook now!”)
For twenty brave men all fisherman who
Would make for him the “Antelope’s” crew
The “Antelopes” sloop was a sickening sight
( “How I wish I was in Sherbrook now!”)
She had a list to the port and her sails in rags
And the cook in the scuppers with the staggers and jags
On the king’s birthday we put to sea
(“How I wish I was in Sherbrook now!”)
It was ninety one days to Montego Bay
Pumping like madmen all the way
On the ninety sixth day we sailed again
( “How I wish I was in Sherbrook now!”)
When a bloody great Yankee hove in sight
With our cracked four-pounders we made to fight.
Oh, the Yankee lay low down with gold
( “How I wish I was in Sherbrook now!”)
She was broad and fat and loose in stays
But to catch her took the Antelope two whole days.
Then at length we stood two cables away
( “How I wish I was in Sherbrook now!”)
Our cracked four-pounders made an awful din
But with one fat ball the Yank stove us in
The Antelope shook and pitched on her side
( “How I wish I was in Sherbrook now!”)
Well Barrett was smashed like a bowl of eggs
And the Maintruck carried off both me legs.
So here I lay in my twenty-third year
( “How I wish I was in Sherbrook now!”)
It’s been six years since we sailed away
And I just made Halifax yesterday