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,
Chorus:
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
Chorus
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