The Corries - Barretts Privateers lyrics

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