{"id":2100,"date":"2014-05-20T08:25:36","date_gmt":"2014-05-20T12:25:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thejovialcrew.com\/?page_id=2100"},"modified":"2020-01-23T19:21:02","modified_gmt":"2020-01-23T23:21:02","slug":"barretts-privateers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thejovialcrew.com\/?page_id=2100","title":{"rendered":"Barrett’s Privateers"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is actually a modern forebitter (not actually in the form of a work song, so not a chantey, sorry) written by the late and very great Stan Rogers<\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The characters in the story are fictional but you get a sense, albeit comically, of what a sailor experienced aboard of the many privateers often thrown together for a quick profit but commanded with much skill and a series of mishaps that leave you shaking your head long with the sailor recounting the tale.<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span>The setting is the American Revolution and it is clear that it is a British (or English Canadian) venture, considering the \u201cprey\u201d is American shipping.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Paul was the first in our lot to present this song, but now it is part of the repertoire of Tim.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jos. Morneault<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

O the year was Seventeen Seventy-Eight
\n<\/span>How I wish I was in <\/span>Sherbrooke<\/span> now<\/span><\/i><\/b>
\n<\/span> A letter of marque came from the king
\n<\/span> To the scummiest vessel I’ve ever seen<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chorus:<\/span><\/span><\/b>
\nGod damn them all
\n<\/span> I was told we’d cruise the seas for American gold
\n<\/span> We’d fire no guns, shed no tears
\n<\/span> Now I’m a broken man on a <\/span>Halifax<\/span><\/span> pier,
\n<\/span> The last of Barrett’s Privateers<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

O Elcid Barrett cried the town
\n<\/span>How I wish I was in <\/span>Sherbrooke<\/span> now<\/span><\/i><\/b>
\n<\/span> For twenty brave men all fishermen who
\n<\/span> Would make for him the Antelope’s crew<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Chorus:<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Antelope sloop was a sickening site
\n<\/span><\/span>How I wish\u2026<\/b>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span> She’d a list to the port and her sails in rags
\n<\/span> And the cook in the scuppers with the staggers and jags<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Chorus:<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On the King’s birthday we put to sea
\n<\/span><\/span>How I wish\u2026<\/b>
\n<\/span><\/span> We were ninety-one days to <\/span><\/span>Montego Bay
\n<\/span> Pumping like madmen all the way
\n<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Chorus:<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

On the ninety-sixth day we sailed again
\n<\/span><\/span>How I wish\u2026<\/b>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span> When a bloody great Yankee hove in sight
\n<\/span> With our cracked four-pounders we made to fight
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Chorus:<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Now the Yankee lay low down with gold
\n<\/span><\/span>How I wish\u2026<\/b>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span> She was broad and fat and loose in stays
\n<\/span> But to catch her took the Antelope two whole days
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Chorus:<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Then at length she stood two cables away
\n<\/span><\/span>How I wish\u2026<\/b>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span> Our crack four-pounders made awful din
\n<\/span> But with one fat ball the Yank stove us in
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Chorus:<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Well the Antelope shook and pitched on her side
\n<\/span><\/span>How I wish\u2026<\/b>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span> Barrett was smashed like a bowl of eggs
\n<\/span> And the main truck carried off both me legs
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Chorus:<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Now here I lay in my twenty-third year
\n<\/span><\/span>How I wish\u2026<\/b>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span> It’s been six years since we sailed away
\n<\/span> And I just made <\/span>Halifax<\/span><\/span> yesterday
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Chorus:<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(Copyright Fogarty’s Cove Music, Inc. )<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>
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