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.
I
Great Big Sea Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm the instrument of joy
And to keep the good times rolling
I'm the boy, I'm the boy,
You know the world could be our oyster,
You just put your trust in me,
Cause we'll keep the good times rolling
Wait and see, wait and see, oh wait and see!
His exhalation, a sweet disintegration.
A few discolorations, then it comes along
Up is why he chooses, the kisses and the bruises
There ain't nothing he refuses, then it comes along
It comes along, and I am lifted, I am lifted, I am lifted!
When I'm up I can't get down
Can't get down, can't get level
When I'm up I can't get down
Get my feet back on the ground
When I'm up I can't get down
Can't get down, can't get level
When I'm up I can't get down
Get my feet back on the ground
He just needs, something to blind him
Something to wind him up
It won't take long to find him
When it comes on strong.
Wise guys are grinning, street lights are spinning
The night is just beginning, and then it comes on strong
It comes on strong, and I am lifted, I am lifted, I am lifted!
When I'm up I can't get down
Can't get down, can't get level
When I'm up I can't get down
Get my feet back on the ground
When I'm up I can't get down
Can't get down, can't get level
When I'm up I can't get down
Get my feet back on the ground
Oh it comes on strong, and I am lifted.
It comes on strong, and I am lifted.
I am lifted, I am lifted!
When I'm up I can't get down
Can't get down, can't get level
When I'm up I can't get down
Get my feet back on the ground
When I'm up I can't get down
Can't get down, can't get level
When I'm up I can't get down
Get my feet back on the ground
Great Big Sea's song "When I'm Up" is all about the roller coaster of emotions that can come with falling in love. The singer is the "fountain of affection" and "the instrument of joy", promising to keep the good times rolling for their partner. The chorus emphasizes the high feelings of love, with the repetition of "When I'm up, I can't get down" - the singer is swept away by the intensity of their emotions, and feels lifted beyond their control.
The second verse deepens the sense of inevitability, with lines like "it won't take long to find him" and "there ain't nothing he refuses". Wiseguys are grinning and street lights are spinning - the night is just beginning, and the rush of adrenaline and passion is too much to resist.
Overall, the song paints a picture of a love that is both thrilling and overwhelming, something that sweeps the singer away and lifts them up beyond their control.
Line by Line Meaning
I am the fountain of affection
He is the source of love and tenderness
I'm the instrument of joy
He brings happiness to those around him
And to keep the good times rolling
He is committed to maintaining a positive atmosphere
I'm the boy, I'm the boy,
He is the one to rely on
You know the world could be our oyster,
He believes that they can have anything they want in life
You just put your trust in me,
He asks for faith in his abilities
Cause we'll keep the good times rolling
He promises to maintain a positive atmosphere
Wait and see, wait and see, oh wait and see!
He asks for patience and promises success
His exhalation, a sweet disintegration.
His breathing is emotional and intense
A few discolorations, then it comes along
After some minor setbacks, something better arrives
Up is why he chooses, the kisses and the bruises
He seeks the high of both pleasure and pain
There ain't nothing he refuses, then it comes along
He is open to new experiences and accepts anything that comes his way
It comes along, and I am lifted, I am lifted, I am lifted!
He feels elevated and alive when something good happens
He just needs, something to blind him
He wants to be fully absorbed in the moment
Something to wind him up
He seeks stimulation and excitement
It won't take long to find him
He is easily enticed by new experiences
When it comes on strong.
He is excited by intense feelings
Wise guys are grinning, street lights are spinning
The world seems alive and exciting
The night is just beginning, and then it comes on strong
The evening holds great promise, especially for something thrilling
Oh it comes on strong, and I am lifted.
He feels euphoric and excited
When I'm up I can't get down
He gets caught up in the moment and loses control
Can't get down, can't get level
He feels unsteady and desperately seeks balance
Get my feet back on the ground
He tries to regain his composure and equilibrium
I am lifted!
He feels euphoric and exhilarated
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALAN PROSSER, IAN TELFER, JOHN JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tamaragrenon4496
LYRICS:
I am the fountain of affection
I'm the instrument of joy
And to keep the good times rolling
I'm the boy, I'm the boy,
You know the world could be our oyster,
You just put your trust in me,
Cause we'll keep the good times rolling
Wait and see, wait and see, oh wait and see!
His exhalation, a sweet disintegration.
A few discolorations, then it comes along
Up is why he chooses, the kisses and the bruises
There ain't nothing he refuses, then it comes along
It comes along, and I am lifted, I am lifted, I am lifted!
When I'm up I can't get down
Can't get down, can't get level
When I'm up I can't get down
Get my feet back on the ground
When I'm up I can't get down
Can't get down, can't get level
When I'm up I can't get down
Get my feet back on the ground
He just needs, something to blind him
Something to wind him up
It won't take long to find him
When it comes on strong.
Wise guys are grinning, street lights are spinning
The night is just beginning, and then it comes on strong
It comes on strong, and I am lifted, I am lifted, I am lifted!
When I'm up I can't get down
Can't get down, can't get level
When I'm up I can't get down
Get my feet back on the ground
When I'm up I can't get down
Can't get down, can't get level
When I'm up I can't get down
Get my feet back on the ground
Oh it comes on strong, and I am lifted.
It comes on strong, and I am lifted.
I am lifted, I am lifted!
When I'm up I can't get down
Can't get down, can't get level
When I'm up I can't get down
Get my feet back on the ground
When I'm up I can't get down
Can't get down, can't get level
When I'm up I can't get down
Get my feet back on the ground
@stephanie8398
Great Big Sea makes me proud to be a Canadian; their music takes me back to my roots.
@SuperMcSkippy
✊ 🇨🇦✊
@lloydbrown110
https://youtu.be/TNjQFbC_lQk
@shaquilleredlox1179
👏
@alanthomasdoyle5728
How are you doing Stephanie?🥰
@alanthomasdoyle5728
@Shaquille Redlox how are you doing?
@evanadams5110
Still a great song so many years later
@babydoll8165
:)
@babydoll8165
this & ordinary day are my favorite
@RowingCrow
I remember listening to them as a child. Me and my siblings would dance around our play room while singing 😂