03.15.06
Barrett’s Privateers
I first heard part of this song in a Due South episode. I’ve been listening to it way too much for the last week.
O 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 Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier, The last of Barrett's Privateers O 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 . . . . The Antelope sloop was a sickening site 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 God damn them all . . . . On the King's birthday we put to sea How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now Ninety-one days to Montego Bay Pumping like madmen all the way God damn them all . . . . On the ninety-sixth day we sailed again How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now When a great big Yankee hove in sight With our cracked four-pounders we made to fight God damn them all . . . . 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 . . . . 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 God damn them all . . . . 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 . . . . Now 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 . . . .
The song was written by Stan Rogers sometime around 1977 (I think). It’s a contemporary song, but written in the style of a folk tune. If you’re wondering about some of the expressions used in the song, check out this analysis of it:
http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~jacktar/barretts.html
If it sounds interesting and you want to listen to it, let me know.
Layora said,
03.20.06 at 12:08 am
I would like to listen to this song. What do you like about it?