Barrett's Privateers

Song Information

Composer: Stan Rogers

Lyric Author: Stan Rogers

Published: 1976

Country of origin: Canada

General Interest

The story goes that Stan Rogers was at a party when the guests began singing sea chanteys, however his turn to lead was continually skipped over. He decided the only way he was going to get to lead a song was if he was the only one who knew the words, and so found a quiet room then and there. The song he wrote that evening was so authentic sounding that to this day it is often credited as a Traditional.

A Privateer was a private person (or vessel) that was given a “letter of marque” by the King, authorising them to carry out acts of war legally. In reality, these were little more than legalised pirates, looking to boost their wealth by raiding enemy ships.

Although Barrett, the Antelope and other specific instances mentioned in the song are fictional, "Barrett's Privateers" is full of many authentic details of privateering in the late 18th century.

Here's a link to the Lyric:

Barrett's Privateers Lyric

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