Oh_ 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'd_ ever_ seen__
God damn them all_ I was told_
We'd cruise_ the seas_ for A merican gold_
We'd fire no guns_ shed no tears__
But I'm a bro_-ken_ man_ on a Halifax pier_
The last_ of Bar_-rett's_ Pri_-va_- teers_
Well_ 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 A merican gold_
We'd fire no guns_ shed no tears__
But I'm a bro_-ken_ man_ on a Halifax pier_
The last_ of Bar_-rett's_ Pri_-va_- teers_
The Antelope sloop was a sickening sight_
HOW I WISH I_ WAS_ IN_ SHERBROOKE NOW_
She'd a list to the port and her sails in rags_
And the cook in the scuppers with the staggers and jags_
God damn them all_ I was told_
We'd cruise_ the seas_ for A merican gold_
We'd fire no guns_ shed no tears__
But I'm a bro_-ken_ man_ on a Halifax pier_
The last_ of Bar_-rett's_ Pri_-va_- teers_
On the K ing's birth-day we p ut to s ea_
HOW I WISH I_ WAS_ IN_ SHERBROOKE NOW_
We were ninety-one days to Mon- tego Bay_
Pumping like madmen all the way_
God damn them all_ I was told_
We'd cruise_ the seas_ for A merican gold_
We'd fire no guns_ shed no tears__
But I'm a bro_-ken_ man_ on a Halifax pier_
The last_ of Bar_-rett's_ Pri_-va_- teers_
On the ninety-sixth 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 m ade to f ight_
God damn them all_ I was told_
We'd cruise_ the seas_ for A merican gold_
We'd fire no guns_ shed no tears__
But I'm a bro_-ken_ man_ on a Halifax pier_
The last_ of Bar_-rett's_ Pri_-va_- teers_
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_
God damn them all_ I was told_
We'd cruise_ the seas_ for A merican gold_
We'd fire no guns_ shed no tears__
But I'm a bro_-ken_ man_ on a Halifax pier_
The last_ of Bar_-rett's_ Pri_-va_- teers_
Then at length we stood two cables a way_
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 A merican gold_
We'd fire no guns_ shed no tears__
But I'm a bro_-ken_ man_ on a Halifax pier_
The last_ of Bar_-rett's_ Pri_-va_- teers_
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 my legs_
Go d damn the m all_ I wa s told_
We'd cruise_ the seas_ for A merican gold_
We'd fire no guns_ shed no tears__
But I'm a bro_-ken_ man_ on a Halifax pier_
The last_ of Bar_-rett's_ Pri_-va_- teers_
So here I lay in my twenty-third year_
HOW I WISH I_ WAS_ IN_ SHERBROOKE NOW_
It's been six years since we sailed a-way_
And I just made Halifax yester day_
God damn them all_ I was told_
We'd cruise_ the seas_ for A merican gold_
We'd fire no guns_ shed no tears__
But I'm a bro_-ken_ man_ on a Halifax pier_
The last_ of Bar_-rett's_ Pri_-va_- teers_
