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 American 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 American 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 American 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 King's birth-day we put to sea_ 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 American 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 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 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 American 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 away_ 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 American 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_ 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 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 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 bro_-ken_ man_ on a Halifax pier_ The last_ of Bar_-rett's_ Pri_-va_-teers_