Words & Music by Stan Rogers
Oh the year was 1778 How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now! A letter of marque came 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 Alcide 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 list to the port and her sails in rags And the cook in the scuppers with the staggers and jags
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
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
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
Then at length she stood two cables away How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now! Our cracked four-pounders made awful din But with one fat ball the Yank stove us in
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
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
