Barrett's Privateers | The Longest Johns | Stan Rogers Cover

"Barrett's Privateers" is a fictional sea shanty written by Stan Rogers in the 1970s but evokes the spirit of the age of privateering. While the ship (the Antelope), Captain Elcid Barrett, and the disastrous Caribbean voyage are inventions, the song accurately captures the dangers of privateering life, the lure of potential riches, and the often grim realities faced by sailors during the late 18th century.

More Stan Rogers please!

0:57 jd literally listing to port while singing that line made me genuinely cackle, well played

Oh, the year was 1778 How I wish I was in Sherbrooke now! When 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, El Cid 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 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! Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's privateers! On the king's birthday, we sailed away 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 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-truck carried off both my 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 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! Now I'm a broken man on a Halifax pier The last of Barrett's privateers!

Nothing quite like storytelling through shanties. And nothing quite like the Longest John's trademark harmonies to deliver a fun take on Stan Rogers.

You guys never fail to please. But lets be honest, it be very hard to go wrong with Stan Rogers. The man was a true genius at writing music. I'd love to hear you guys cover White squall or The Last watch. Your harmony would make those songs so much more impactful

I like how JD leaned to his left at "list to port". A real shantyman knows.

:_TLJAdequate::_TLJNailedit: The harmonies! The storytellling!! The listing to port!!! All of it shines! (Your request for suggestions is covered up by your video suggestions, but I will again suggest "The Golden Vanity")

Long live Stan Rogers. Thanks to the Johns (and Canadian punkers The Dreadnoughts) for keeping Stan's music alive!

Longest johns doing Stan Rogers Cover? Yep its gonna be fire🔥🔥

Being here in Nova Scotia, or New Scotland, I am a true Stan Rogers fan. As I have said before I love your covers of his and everyone you do. You always add that little twist that makes it your own when you are following the original so close. I'm going to see his brother, Garnet, in a couple of weeks. He was in Stans band and sang on some of his recordings. Have you heard his song "Welcome to Hell"? There are live vids of him doing it at some of his shows.. you could always substitute some of the government leaders names. Keep up the good work, you bring so many smiles to peoples faces.

Always love a JD lead! My vote still lays with The Last Shanty!

A Canadian classic! Nobody does it quite like Stan Rogers but love me a Longest Johns cover

I would humbly request Fisherman's Wharf or The Wreck of The Athen's Queen. To be honest, I'd just straight up buy an album of Stan Rogers covers by The Longest Johns.

Can this beautiful rendition make its way to spotify?

When I saw you gents in Phoenix, AZ, you opened with a cover/parody of Billy Joel’s The Longest Time, I’d love to hear a studio recording of it!

Good song, good video. But hearing the clapping/stomping with no actual clapping/stomping in the video threw me off way more than it had any right to 😂

It delights me to run around the world of YouTube covers in search of the version of my favorite songs that bests to original. In the case of Stan Rogers it needs to be acknowledged that there is only tributes... 😉

Really looking forward to seeing you guys in Montreal!!

Italian here. I have only the faintest idea where Halifax is. I really have no business liking this song so much. And yet I do, and this is one of the best versions around. Would be nice hearing people sing it in a pub, someday.