While it has been confirmed that the band has officially retired, former members Alan Doyle and Séan McCann have continued performing in their own solo careers typically including music from Great Big Sea in their setlists.
The band played its first official concert on March 11, 1993, opening for The Irish Descendants at Memorial University of Newfoundland in St. John's, Newfoundland. The founding band members included Alan Doyle (vocals, guitar, bouzouki, mandolin), Séan McCann (vocals, bodhrán, guitar, tin whistle), Darrell Power (vocals, bass, guitar, bones), and Bob Hallett (vocals, fiddle, accordion, mandolin, concertina, bouzouki, whistles, bagpipes).
Power, McCann and Hallett had already been playing together in another band. In the winter of 1989, the band, a six-piece with guitar, bass, fiddle, accordion and mandolin played its first show at the Memorial University's winter carnival talent show under the name "Newfoundland Republican Army" or NRA, and won first prize. The band's only other appearance as NRA was later that winter at the university "Grad House". The band then dropped the fiddler, accordion player and the name.
The band found its new name as original bassist Jeff Scott rented an apartment on Rankin Street, St. John's, where the members first met and discussed the formation of the band. As a four-piece, the band first appeared as "Rankin Street" at a little pub in downtown St. John's called "The Rose and Thistle", playing for $100 and beer. They played through Sean McCann's stereo system, as renting a PA would have cost more than the night's earnings. Susan Hickey (guitar and vocals) left the band months later to attend school in Halifax and was replaced by Darrell Power. The band gained much popularity playing such local pubs as Bridget's and Greensleeves. In 1991 Jeff Scott was replaced by Jackie St. Croix on bass. The band released one recording on cassette titled "Rankin Street".
In 1997, the band reached the top ten of the Canadian RPM pop chart with "When I'm Up (I Can't Get Down)", a cover of a song by the British folk group Oysterband. They performed at the 1999 Stardust Picnic festival at Historic Fort York, Toronto.
The band won the Entertainer of the Year award at the East Coast Music Awards for every year between 1996 and 2000. In 2001, they decided not to submit their name for nomination in order to allow other bands to compete. They have also been nominated for several Juno Awards, including Group of the Year in 1998, 2005, 2009, and 2011.
Darrell Power retired from Great Big Sea in 2003 to spend more time with his family and friends. Supporting members of the band include Canadian freelance drummer Kris MacFarlane (2002) (drums, accordion, guitar, backing vocals) and Murray Foster (2003, formerly of the band Moxy Früvous) (bass, backing vocals).
In late 2005, the band released its long-awaited "traditional" album, The Hard and the Easy, on which they recorded their favourite Newfoundland party songs. The title of the album comes from a line of the song "Tickle Cove Pond", one of two songs on the album about a horse falling through ice.
On June 13, 2007, the band announced they would return to the studio with producer Hawksley Workman. On March 14, 2008, the band announced that the title of the new album would be Fortune's Favour, borrowing a phrase from one of the songs on the album, "England". The album was officially released on June 24, 2008 across all of North America.
On February 23, 2010, band member Séan McCann released his debut solo album Lullabies for Bloodshot Eyes to pleasing critical success.
On July 13, 2010, Great Big Sea released their new album Safe Upon the Shore in North America. Alan's "From the Road" blog on the band's website, originally confirmed its production in an April posting, speaking also of the album's subsequent release in July. "Nothing But A Song" was the first single off the bands' ninth studio recording, with a subsequent tour kicking off at the end of the summer 2010.
Great Big Sea announced a 'greatest hits' album titled "XX" in October 2012, accompanied by a 20th anniversary tour with 32 dates in 28 cities across the US and Canada which kicked off on March 5, 2013 in Los Angeles and finished in St. John's on April 23, 2013.
In 2013, McCann announced that he would be leaving the band at the end of the XX tour, much to the dismay of his bandmates. Struggling to maintain his new sobriety, he told his bandmates in January of 2013 that XX would be his last tour with the band, but the rest of the band and its management refused to announce this publicly. Finally, in November 2013 with XX almost over, McCann announced his departure himself in a tweet, feeling that the fans needed to know. While largely vilified by Great Big Sea fans with little said by the band or management to counter this view, McCann claims he was devastated by how Great Big Sea ended and wishes it could have gone differently.
Following McCann's departure, the remaining band members spent a year or so trying to find an amicable way that they could continue without him. Eventually coming to the realization that they didn’t want to go on like that, and happily retiring the band.
Barque in the Harbour
Great Big Sea Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And stepped into a pub where I was oft times before
And as I was sitting and enjoying my glass
Who chanced to walk in but a young Spanish lass
She sat down beside me and kept squeezing my hand
Saying 'Sir you're a stranger not long to this land'
Will you roam, Johnny Sailor, would you roam along with me
[Chorus]
Don't you leave me Johnny Sailor' were the words she did cry
Waving and weeping and wiping her eyes
When you reach home in your own Newfoundland
Think of the young Spaniard who kept squeezing your hand
I quickly consented with her for to roam
She lived by herself in a neat little home
She was brisk, plump and jolly and her age scare 19
And the name of that maiden I think was Irene
One fine summer's morning our ship, she set sail
And down by the seashore lovely Irene she came
Waving her pocket handkerchief and wiping her eyes
Don't leave me Johnny Sailor' were the words she did cry
[Chorus]
I'll give you farewell love on a fine summer's breeze
But love don't forget me when you're crossing the sea
And when you are married and enjoying your bride
Think on the young maiden who lay by your side
[Chorus]
The song "Barque in the Harbour" by Great Big Sea tells the story of a sailor who meets a young Spanish woman while visiting a pub on land. She invites him to roam with her to a remote location where they can be alone, and he agrees. The sailor describes her as plump, jolly and just 19 years old. The two of them spend some time together, but when it's time for the sailor to set sail, the young woman waves goodbye with tears in her eyes and reminds him not to forget her when he is married.
The lyrics in this song reflect on the transient nature of sailors' lives, constantly moving and meeting new people with the bittersweet realization that each goodbye could be the last. The song's chorus, with its repeating line "Don't leave me Johnny Sailor" and the young woman's farewell, evoke a sense of sadness but also of the potential for new adventures and relationships.
In addition to its emotive lyrics, "Barque in the Harbour" features a traditional Newfoundland folk melody and lively instrumentation that showcases Great Big Sea's distinctive sound. The song has become a fan favorite and a staple in the band's live performances, connecting audiences with the history and culture of Canada's eastern shores.
Line by Line Meaning
From a barge in the harbour I went roaming on shore
I left my boat and went on land, wandering around.
And stepped into a pub where I was oft times before
I entered a pub that I've visited before.
And as I was sitting and enjoying my glass
As I was sitting down and enjoying my drink,
Who chanced to walk in but a young Spanish lass
A young lady of Spanish origin happened to walk in.
She sat down beside me and kept squeezing my hand
She sat next to me and kept holding my hand tightly.
Saying 'Sir you're a stranger not long to this land'
She addressed me as a stranger who hasn't been here for long.
Will you roam, Johnny Sailor, would you roam along with me
She asked me to join her on a journey to a secret place.
To some lonesome spot where nobody can see
A place where nobody could see us.
[Chorus]
Refrain
Don't you leave me Johnny Sailor' were the words she did cry
She begged me not to leave her.
Waving and weeping and wiping her eyes
She waved and wept while wiping her eyes.
When you reach home in your own Newfoundland
When I return to my native Newfoundland.
Think of the young Spaniard who kept squeezing your hand
I should remember the young lady from Spain who held my hand.
I quickly consented with her for to roam
I agreed to her proposal quickly.
She lived by herself in a neat little home
She lived alone in a small, tidy home.
She was brisk, plump and jolly and her age scarce 19
She was lively, slightly chubby, and happy, barely 19 years old.
And the name of that maiden I think was Irene
I believe that her name was Irene.
One fine summer's morning our ship, she set sail
On a beautiful summer morning, we departed on our ship.
And down by the seashore lovely Irene she came
Down by the seashore, Irene came to see us off.
Waving her pocket handkerchief and wiping her eyes
She waved her handkerchief and wiped her eyes.
Don't leave me Johnny Sailor' were the words she did cry
She pleaded with me not to leave her.
[Chorus]
Refrain
I'll give you farewell love on a fine summer's breeze
I'll give you a farewell kiss with pleasant summer wind.
But love don't forget me when you're crossing the sea
But don't forget about me when you're sailing across the sea.
And when you are married and enjoying your bride
And when you're married and spending time with your wife.
Think on the young maiden who lay by your side
Remember the young lady who lay beside you.
[Chorus]
Refrain
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ALAN DOYLE, BOB HALLETT, DARRELL POWER, SEAN MCCANN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind