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Barret's Privateers
Stan Rogers Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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,

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, 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
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 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 maintruck 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

Overall Meaning

The song "Barrett's Privateers" tells the story of a sailor who joins Elcid Barrett's crew, a group of fishermen aboard the Antelope sloop in 1778, after receiving a letter of marque from the King to raid American ships for gold. The sailor's excitement quickly turns into dread as he realizes that they have been given the worst ship and the crew is a motley bunch of inexperienced fishermen. Despite being promised no fighting, they encounter a Yankee ship and engage in a two-day battle, which ends tragically for the Antelope and its crew. The survivor ends up as a broken man, with no gold in his pockets, on a Halifax pier, reflecting on his past five years.


The song captures the hardships of sailors during the late 18th century and their courageous efforts to battle against rival nations for glory and wealth. It emphasizes the unpredictability of life at sea and the harsh realities of naval warfare. While the sailor in this song may have been successful in achieving his dreams of becoming rich by looting American ships, his success was short-lived, and he was left with nothing but the memories of the battles he fought.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh, the year was 1778, HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW!
The singer reflects on the year 1778 and wishes to be in Sherbrooke presently.


A letter of marque came from the King, To the scummiest vessel I'd ever seen,
The King's letter of marque was given to the singer's ship, which he describes as the worst ship he's ever seen.


God damn them all!
The singer expresses disgust and frustration towards all those involved in his story.


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 artist was promised a wealthy voyage without conflict, but now he is a broken man on a pier and the last surviving member of Elcid Barrett's privateers.


Oh, 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
Elcid Barrett recruited twenty brave fishermen to join him in capturing the Antelope's crew and the artist reflects on his desire to be in Sherbrooke.


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 jags
The Antelope was in terrible shape, listing to the port side with ragged sails, and their cook was extremely ill. The singer wishes he was in Sherbrooke still.


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
The singer and crew departed on the King's birthday and took 91 days to arrive at Montego Bay, constantly pumping water out of their damaged ship. He wishes he was in Sherbrooke right now.


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
On the 96th day, a large American ship was spotted and the artist and crew prepared to fight with their flawed weapons. He wishes he was back in Sherbrooke.


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
The American ship had treasure on board, but was also slow and unwieldy, taking the Antelope two full days to catch up to. The artist wishes he was in Sherbrooke again.


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
Eventually, the two ships were very close, and the Antelope fired their weapons, but unfortunately a shot from the American ship took them down. The artist wishes he was back in Sherbrooke.


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 maintruck carried off both me legs
The Antelope was destroyed and Barrett was killed, while the singer lost both of his legs in the attack. He wishes he was in Sherbrooke now.


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
The artist is now lying, with both legs lost, at age 23, after the events took place six years prior, and only recently arrived in Halifax. He wishes he was back in Sherbrooke.




Contributed by Austin G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Teo Mantecón Tardivo

Lyrics:
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've 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 broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers
Oh 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 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 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 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 ninety-one 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
But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers
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 broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers
How 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 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
But 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 truck 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
But I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers
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
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 broken man on a Halifax pier
The last of Barrett's Privateers



All comments from YouTube:

Michael Ghent

Died far too young. Perished in a cabin fire aboard an Air Canada flight that made an emergency landing in Cincinnati. He apparently returned to the cabin to pull out other passengers but succumbed to the smoke inside the cabin. His lasting legacy are his songs.
Requiescet in pace.

It's Just Judy

There is no proof Stan Rogers ever left the plane, sadly.

seronymus

Memory Eternal. ☦ May Christ grant him eternal blissful rest

james grannes

Pretty sure he died in plane crash in Iowa, engine blew up, cutting hydraulics, crash landed, some survivors.

K Molnar

@We live in a society Amen brother

arthur mcclench

@james grannes No. Fire in the toilet that flashed over on emergency landing at Cincinatti/North Kentucky. Absurd way to go.

32 More Replies...

Matt Austin

You want to see 100% of bar patrons immediately stop and sing along a Capella to a song, play this in a Nova Scotia bar.
It’s unreal to have everyone in the place singing without any music.

maestro4202 2

Play this in any bar anywhere and it will be great.

Yvonne

Can confirm from my Uni days!

Michael Greene

Absolutely the best memories of my youth !

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