[Verse 1: lead, all]
Oh, the year was seventeen-seventy-six
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
A letter of marque came from the King
To the scummiest vessel I've 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

[Verse 2: lead, all]
Ol' Elcid Barrett cried the town
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
For twenty brave men, all fishеrmen who
Would make for him the Antеlope's crew

[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

[Verse 3: lead, all]
The Antelope sloop was a sickening sight
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
She'd a list to the port 'n her sails in rags
And the cook in the scuppers with the staggers and jags
[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

[Verse 4: lead, all]
On the King's birthday we put to sea
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
We were ninety-one days to Montigo Bay
Pumping like madmen all the way

[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

[Verse 5: lead, all]
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 a cracked four-pounder we made to fight!

[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
[Verse 6: lead, all]
The Yankee lay low down with gold
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
She was broad and fat and loose in stay
But to catch her took the Antelope two whole days!

[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

[Verse 7: lead, all]
Then at last we stood two cables away
How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now
Our cracked four-pounder made an awful din
But with one fat ball the Yank stove us in

[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

[Verse 8: lead, all]
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 track carried off both me legs
[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

[Verse 9: lead, all]
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!

[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