I was told we'd cruise the seas
For American gold, we'd fire no guns
Shed no tears
But 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
But 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 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 American gold, we'd fire no guns
Shed no tears
But 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 ninety-one 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
But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's privateers

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 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
But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's privateers

Now 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 American gold, we'd fire no guns
Shed no tears
But 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 Yanks 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
But 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 truck 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
But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's privateers

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 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
But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's privateers

- Stan Rogers
"Barrett's Privateers"
Fogarty's Cove (1976)

'You've just won audience of the year.'
'We won that LAST year!'
'Winners and still champion...'

Edit: And I've had the damn song going in my head all day. That is when I haven been playing it, of course.