The first few times I heard this song, I just assumed it was a classic shanty that Rogers was singing, just very well. I was floored when I found out not only that he wrote it, but also that the...
The first few times I heard this song, I just assumed it was a classic shanty that Rogers was singing, just very well. I was floored when I found out not only that he wrote it, but also that the references and story are entirely fictional. "Barrett's privateers" never existed - they popped out of the mind of Stan himself. I think this really highlights his ability, as he absolutely nailed the sound, theme, and just general feeling of a shanty.
There actually were Canadian privateers fighting against the Americans in and around the War of 1812, but yeah, this particular story in the song was made up by Stan.
There actually were Canadian privateers fighting against the Americans in and around the War of 1812, but yeah, this particular story in the song was made up by Stan.
Canadian and British Privateers in the War of 1812
Less is known of the Canadian privateers during the War of 1812, but in the whole period of the Napoleonic Wars the British government issued more than 4000 commissions. Canadian privateers preferred to rely on small, lightly armed vessels and cruised fairly close to home. Halifax teemed with ships either preparing for cruises, or guarding their prizes. Of some 40 privateers the most successful were the Sir John Sherbrooke, the Retaliation and the Liverpool Packet. The schooner Liverpool Packet was the most successful privateer of the whole War of 1812, with some 50 prizes valued at between $264 000 and $1 000 000. A former slaver captured by the Royal Navy, it carried a crew of 40 men and 5 carriage guns. The vessel's owners bought the schooner for £420.
The largest and fastest British privateer, the brig Sir John Sherbrooke, only sailed for one year, in which it captured 18 prizes. When HMS Shannon engaged and defeated the USS Chesapeake, the Sir John Sherbrooke supplied the British ship with much-needed reinforcements.
The privateers of Nova Scotia played an integral role in closing American ports during the War of 1812. They were a valuable source of intelligence for the Royal Navy on American strength and ship movements. While 15 commissioned ships from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia failed to capture any prizes and another 10 only took one each, the remaining privateers made fortunes for their owners.
Privateers also operated on the Great Lakes. In July 1813 two small American sloops, the Neptune and the Fox, sprang a trap on a flotilla of bateaux in the St Lawrence River, making off with meat, bread and ammunition.
Privateering from Canadian ports ceased in 1815 with the Treaty of Ghent, although it was not ended by international convention until the Declaration of Paris in 1856. -source
There's a longer (and clearer) version of the song here. It's one of my favorite sea shanties, especially because of how well it fits with the genuine pieces from back in the day.
There's a longer (and clearer) version of the song here. It's one of my favorite sea shanties, especially because of how well it fits with the genuine pieces from back in the day.
Yeah, the only reason I didn't submit that version is because I think the live element from this documentary clip adds greatly to the listening experience. But I am admittedly pretty biased, since...
Yeah, the only reason I didn't submit that version is because I think the live element from this documentary clip adds greatly to the listening experience. But I am admittedly pretty biased, since I much prefer live music to studio recording. ;)
Always great to hear this. Reminds me of a scene from Due South years ago where a singalong of Barrett's Privateers was started to distract a bunch of sailors:...
Always great to hear this. Reminds me of a scene from Due South years ago where a singalong of Barrett's Privateers was started to distract a bunch of sailors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbeXh9FZT_g
I love this song. I discovered it a few years ago, on 4chan’s /f/ of all places. The video is pretty good too, eh?
The first few times I heard this song, I just assumed it was a classic shanty that Rogers was singing, just very well. I was floored when I found out not only that he wrote it, but also that the references and story are entirely fictional. "Barrett's privateers" never existed - they popped out of the mind of Stan himself. I think this really highlights his ability, as he absolutely nailed the sound, theme, and just general feeling of a shanty.
There actually were Canadian privateers fighting against the Americans in and around the War of 1812, but yeah, this particular story in the song was made up by Stan.
There's a longer (and clearer) version of the song here. It's one of my favorite sea shanties, especially because of how well it fits with the genuine pieces from back in the day.
Yeah, the only reason I didn't submit that version is because I think the live element from this documentary clip adds greatly to the listening experience. But I am admittedly pretty biased, since I much prefer live music to studio recording. ;)
Always great to hear this. Reminds me of a scene from Due South years ago where a singalong of Barrett's Privateers was started to distract a bunch of sailors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbeXh9FZT_g