Three Pints Gone has performed for ten years, taking its current name in 2000, there former name was Wild Mountain Thyme. Guest performers have included Randy Adams, Mike McCauley, Michi Regier, Liam Riggs and others. Its regular tour includes Renaissance Festivals in St. Louis, Des Moines and Silver Leaf, as well as Pike River Rendezvous, Wisconsin Highland Games, the St. Louis Pirate Festival and Camelot Days in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Barrett's Privateers
3 Pints Gone Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A letter of marque come 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
Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers.
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
Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers.
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
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.
On the King's birthday we put to sea, HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
We were 91 days to Montego 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
Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers.
On the 96th 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
Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers.
The Yankee lay low down with gold, HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
She was broad and fat and loose in the 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
Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers.
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
Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers.
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 trunk carried off both me legs
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.
So here I lay in my 23rd year, HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
It's been 6 years since we sailed away
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
Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers
"Barrett's Privateers" is a song written and performed by Canadian folk music group "3 Pints Gone". The song depicts the misadventures of thirty brave men who were led by Elcid Barrett, a privateer captain who received a letter of marque issued by the King of England during the American War of Independence. The song is written in the first person perspective of a sailor who was a member of Barrett's crew who survived the ordeal. The sailor's despair and longing to be in Sherbrooke in present-day Quebec, Canada, where he would find solace and escape the horrors of his past, sets the mood for the lyrics.
The song tells the story of the captain's ship, the Antelope, which has seen better days when the crew was tasked to sail the seas and acquire American gold. The ship was poorly maintained and lacked manpower as twenty brave fishermen were taken to fill the ranks of the crew, and they were promised to sail the seas and acquire American gold. The song goes on to describe the crew's journey to Montego Bay, where they spent 91 days sailing, pumping seawater, and battling scurvy. After 96 days, they faced their first enemy: a Yankee ship that took two days to capture.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, the year was 1778, HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
The singer reminisces about the year 1778 and wishes they were in Sherbrooke at present.
A letter of marque come from the king,
The king issued a letter of marque.
To the scummiest vessel I'd ever seen,
The singer was assigned to the worst ship they've ever encountered.
God damn them all!
An exclamation of anger and frustration towards those involved in the situation.
I was told we'd cruise the seas for American gold
The artist was told that they would travel the seas in search of gold in America.
We'd fire no guns-shed no tears
The singer was informed that no guns would be fired and no tears would be shed during their mission.
Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The singer is now a broken man, docked on a pier in Halifax.
The last of Barrett's Privateers.
The artist is the last remaining member of Barrett's privateers.
Oh, Elcid Barrett cried the town, HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
The town cried for Elcid Barrett and the artist wishes they were in Sherbrooke currently.
For twenty brave men all fishermen who
Twenty brave fishermen joined Elcid Barrett's crew.
Would make for him the Antelope's crew
These fishermen would help take over the Antelope's crew for Barrett.
The Antelope sloop was a sickening sight, HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
The Antelope sloop was in poor condition and the artist wishes they were in Sherbrooke currently.
She'd a list to the port and and her sails in rags
The ship was leaning to port and the sails were torn.
And the cook in scuppers with the staggers and the jags
The cook was drunk and lay in the bilge with tremors and bumps.
On the King's birthday we put to sea, HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
On the day of the king's birth, they set sail and the singer wishes they were in Sherbrooke currently.
We were 91 days to Montego Bay
It took 91 days to reach Montego Bay.
Pumping like madmen all the way
The crew was pumping water out of the ship the entire way.
On the 96th day we sailed again, HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
On the 96th day, they set sail again and the singer wishes they were in Sherbrooke currently.
When a bloody great Yankee hove in sight
They spotted a large American ship.
With our cracked four pounders we made to fight
With their damaged guns, they prepared to fight the American ship.
The Yankee lay low down with gold, HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
The American ship had valuable cargo and the artist wishes they were in Sherbrooke currently.
She was broad and fat and loose in the stays
The American ship was wide and loose in the stays (ropes supporting the mast).
But to catch her took the Antelope two whole days
It took two full days for the Antelope to catch up to the American ship.
Then at length we stood two cables away, HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
They finally got close to the American ship and the artist wishes they were in Sherbrooke currently.
Our cracked four pounders made an awful din
Their guns made a loud and terrible noise.
But with one fat ball the Yank stove us in
The American ship fired a large projectile that heavily damaged the Antelope.
The Antelope shook and pitched on her side, HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
The Antelope was violently shaken and tilted on its side and the singer wishes they were in Sherbrooke currently.
Barrett was smashed like a bowl of eggs
Elcid Barrett was crushed like a broken egg.
And the Main trunk carried off both me legs
The main mast knocked off both of the artist's legs.
So here I lay in my 23rd year, HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
The singer is currently 23 years old and wishes they were in Sherbrooke currently.
It's been 6 years since we sailed away
It has been six years since they set sail.
And I just made Halifax yesterday
The artist arrived in Halifax just yesterday.
Contributed by Aaliyah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.