Barrett's Privateers

I was having dinner last night at a pub and I found myself in a conversation with a nice couple. The man was a Japanese national- a chemist and a professor at a prestigious Japanese University. His wife was a Canadian from Halifax, Nova Scotia who had received her Ph.D. in Japanese. The gentleman and I engaged in a lengthy discussion about Japanese history and culture, most notably the Sengoku Period leading up to the Tokugawa Shogunate. Fascinating conversation actually. We ended our discussion with the Takeda clan and their contribution to bushi damashi or the idea of warrior spirit. I was stoked because the Takeda clan is where the Japanese portion of my martial lineage is housed. Soon after that, his wife started talking about her family history and mentioned privateering. I asked if she knew the song Barrett's Privateers- and old Halifax sea shanty. She almost fell out of her seat. She couldn't believe I even knew of the song. She said if I could sing it, they would pay for my supper. Unfortunately for her, I've spent much of my life in places of ill repute where you learn things like sea shanties. So I sang the song and they bought me dinner. And who says obscure knowledge can't work in your favor? If she had asked me about Ancient Greek history and the Hellenistic Period, I could have really let it fly. But besides all that, it's a great song and I'd like to share some of it with you.

Barrett's Privateers

Oh, the year was 1778
HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW (Caps sung in unison by drunken shipmates)
When 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
FIRE NO GUNS, SHED NO TEARS
NOW I'M A BROKEN MAN ON A HALIFAX PIER
THE LAST OF BARRET'S PRIVATEERS

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 scuppers with the staggers and jags
(CHORUS)

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 mde to fight
(CHORUS)

Then at length we stood two cables away
HOW I WISH I WAS IN SHERBROOKE NOW
Our cracked four pounders made quite a din
But with one fat ball the Yank stove us in
(CHORUS)

The Antelop 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
(CHORUS)

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
FIRE NO GUNS, SHED NO TEARS
NOW I'M A BROKEN MAN ON A HALIFAX PIER
THE LAST OF BARRETT'S PRIVATEERS.

What a great song. Ranks right up there with "Whisky You're the Devil" and "Johnson's Motor Car."