Well, the year was 1778
How I wish I was in... Now!
When a letter of marque was sent by the king
To the scummiest vessel I’ve ever seen
God damn them all
I was told we’d sail the seas
For American gold
We’d fire no guns, she'd no tears
I’m a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett’s Privateers
‘Twas then ‘Sid Barrett cried the town
How I wish I was in... Now!
For twenty man, all fisherman who
Would make for him the Antelope crew
God damn them all
I was told we’d sail the seas
For American gold
We’d fire no guns, she'd no tears
I’m a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett’s Privateers
Now, the Antelope’s sloop was a sickening sight
I wish I was in... Now!
With a list to port and ‘er sails in rags
And the cook in the scuppers with the staggers and jags
God damn them all
I was told we’d sail the seas
For American gold
We’d fire no guns, she'd no tears
I’m a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett’s Privateers
On the kings birthday we sailed away
I wish I was in... Now!
When a great big Yankee hovered in sight
With our cracked four-pounders we made to fight.
God damn them all
I was told we’d sail the seas
For American gold
We’d fire no guns, she'd no tears
I’m a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett’s Privateers
The Yankee lay low down with gold
I wish I was in ... Now!
She was low and fat and loose stays
But to catch her took the Antelope three whole days
God damn them all
I was told we’d sail the seas
For American gold
We’d fire no guns, she'd no tears
I’m a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett’s Privateers
But at length we stood two cables away
I wish I was in… 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 sail the seas
For American gold
We’d fire no guns, she'd no tears
I’m a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett’s Privateers
Well, the Antelope shook and fetched on our side
I wish I was in ... Now!
Barrett was smashed like a bowl of eggs
And the main track took away both my legs
God damn them all
I was told we’d sail the seas
For American gold
We’d fire no guns, she'd no tears
I’m a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett’s Privateers
So, here I lay on my twenty-fifth year
I wish I was in… now!
Six years since we sailed away
But I just made Halifax yesterday
God damn them all
I was told we’d sail the seas
For American gold
We’d fire no guns, she'd no tears
I’m a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett’s Privateers
God damn them all
I was told we’d sail the seas
For American gold
We’d fire no guns, she'd no tears
I’m a broken man on a Halifax pier
Sailed the seas for many a long year
You’ll never find a better man far or near
I’m a last of Barrett’s Privateers
