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.
Feel It Turn
Great Big Sea Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Floating gently to the sun
I've come to see my world rewarded
A new day has begun
A lost bird caught in mid migration
Far away to a foreign land
Offspring of a secret nation
[Chorus]
I can see the earth below me
And I can
Feel it turn
Fog lifts to reveal potential
For generations prophesied
Our growth to be exponential
Our promise finally realized
[Chorus]
Feel it turn
Across the sky
The world it learns
So must I
Cut steel wired into water
Fixed link, circumnavigate
Old men see your sons and daughters
No longer, no longer hesitate
[Chorus:Repeat x2]
The lyrics to Great Big Sea's song "Feel It Turn" describe a sense of forward motion and optimism for a better future. The first verse depicts the singer experiencing a dream where they are traveling towards the sun, symbolizing a journey towards a brighter tomorrow. The second verse introduces the idea of a "lost bird caught in mid migration," which could represent a sense of displacement or feeling like an outsider in one's own community. However, the reference to a "secret nation" suggests a connection to a shared identity and potential for unity. The chorus, which repeats throughout the song, emphasizes the feeling of being connected to the earth and aware of its constant movement.
The third verse references the potential for growth and progress, with the fog lifting to reveal a brighter future. The line "Our growth to be exponential" speaks to the idea of exponential progress and the possibility of significant change in a short amount of time. The final verse highlights the importance of infrastructure and innovation, with the reference to "cut steel wired into water" and "fixed link, circumnavigate." The song ends with a call to action, urging listeners to not hesitate in taking action towards a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
I had a dream I was moving forward
Dreamt of progress and advancement
Floating gently to the sun
Hopeful, optimistic and confident about the future
I've come to see my world rewarded
Expecting to reap the benefits of perseverance and hard work
A new day has begun
Opportunity for growth and change, fresh start
A lost bird caught in mid migration
Overcoming obstacles and challenges, finding one’s way
Far away to a foreign land
Venturing into uncharted territory, uncertainty and vulnerability
Offspring of a secret nation
Proud heritage and cultural identity
A new day has begun
Opportunity for growth and change, fresh start
I can see the earth below me
Awareness of one's place and connection to the world
And I can
Acknowledging personal empowerment and agency
Feel it turn
Sensitivity to the constant motion and change of the world
Fog lifts to reveal potential
Clarity and vision for the future and possibilities ahead
For generations prophesied
Fulfilling expectations and hopes of those who came before
Our growth to be exponential
Expectation of rapid and significant progress
Our promise finally realized
Attaining long-awaited and anticipated goals and achievements
Feel it turn
Sensitivity to the constant motion and change of the world
Across the sky
Vastness of the world and potential for exploration
The world it learns
Continued evolution and growth of nature, society and culture
So must I
Personal responsibility and commitment to growth and development
Cut steel wired into water
Overcoming seemingly impossible barriers and limitations
Fixed link, circumnavigate
Innovation, exploration and connection
Old men see your sons and daughters
Passing on knowledge and legacy to future generations
No longer, no longer hesitate
Urgency and determination in seizing opportunities for progress and growth
Feel it turn
Sensitivity to the constant motion and change of the world
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: SEAN MCCANN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Thread Killer
best band to ever rock the earth, proud to say they're Canadian ;)
Mike MacDonald
Best Soft Rock song ever.
Anouk
CANADA.
saxophone
Such a calm, clear song.....dreamy....a true sucess. It helps whenever your feeling sad, and you dont even have to listen to the words, the beat and tune enough to calm and comfort anyone. A true masterpeice.
Abbie Hartley
Discovered these guys thanks to Pandora. They became my favorite because there isn't a song of theirs that cannot make me feel something, whether it's the giddy silliness of the Night Paddy Murphey Died, or the quiet happy joy this song gives. Absolutely love them.
standingintheshadows
Bravo lads, the song is absolutely mesmerizing, truly a thing of beauty
HeidisHappyPlace
What beautiful people! I can't believe I've never heard of them. I'm in love...Amazing...every song!
Brigid Stephenson
This is such a wonderful song. This band has been an inspiration to me for many years. I wish they would come to Chicago! Guess I'll have to go to them, lol.
Rachee C
Absolutely love youz!
You melt my ❄💔 (my icy broken heart)
Have always loved listening to you all ✨
Kingdom Come
Sometimes maybe one can feel God's spirit flowing around and through a human consciousness. Catching a glimpse of what is more real than we can see. I have always loved this song....a Canadian now living on the shores of the tropical Indian Ocean....and I can feel this tune pull at my heart, feeling the greatness in everything....GBS, thanks for being part of my life journey.