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.
Lukey
Great Big Sea Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ha, me boys!
Lukey's boat is painted green,
The prettiest boat that you've ever seen,
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
Well oh, Lukey's boat's got a fine fore cuddy,
Lukey's boat's got a fine fore cuddy,
And every seam is chinked with putty,
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
Well I says "Lukey the blinds are down"
Ha, me boys!
I says "Lukey the blinds are down"
"Me wife is dead and she's underground"
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day
Well I says Lukey "I don't care"
Ha, me boys!
I says Lukey "I don't care"
"I'll get me another in the spring of the year"
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
Oh, Lukey's rolling out his grub,
Ha, me boys!
Lukey's rolling out his grub,
One split pea, and a ten pound tub,
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
Well, Lukey's boat's got high-topped sails,
Ha, me boys!
Lukey's boat's got high-topped sails
The sheet was planted with copper nails,
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
Lukey's boat is painted green,
Ha, me boys!
Lukey's boat is painted green,
It's the prettiest boat that you've ever seen,
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
The lyrics of Great Big Sea's song "Lukey" celebrate the charm and beauty of Lukey's boat. The upbeat and lively melody matches the joyous spirit of the sailors. The opening lines create an image of the boat that is hard to miss: "Well oh, Lukey's boat is painted green / The prettiest boat that you've ever seen". The chorus, "A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!" is a playful phrase that adds to the jovial atmosphere. The following verses talk about the details of the boat, including its fine fore cuddy and the high-topped sails with copper nails planted on it, all contributing to the boat's beauty.
However, towards the end of the song, a somber note is introduced. The singer informs Lukey that his wife has died, to which Lukey responds nonchalantly that he will find another wife in spring, indicating that this happens regularly. Despite this, the song ends on a cheerful note, repeating the chorus, "Lukey's boat is painted green / It's the prettiest boat that you've ever seen".
Overall, "Lukey" is a joyous song about celebrating the simple pleasures of life, like owning the prettiest boat in the sea. It also acknowledges the unpredictable nature of life, where sadness and happiness coexist.
Line by Line Meaning
Well oh, Lukey's boat is painted green,
Ha, me boys!
Lukey's boat is a beautiful, brightly colored green, which is admired by all.
Lukey's boat is painted green,
The prettiest boat that you've ever seen,
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
Lukey's boat is the most stunning vessel that is visually appealing to the eye.
Well oh, Lukey's boat's got a fine fore cuddy,
Ha, me boys!
Lukey has a boat that has a fantastic front cabin that is neatly finished with anti-leak seals.
Lukey's boat's got a fine fore cuddy,
And every seam is chinked with putty,
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
Lukey's boat has a beautifully finished front cabin, and all the seams are appropriately filled with putty to keep it from leaking.
Well I says "Lukey the blinds are down"
Ha, me boys!
When I approached Lukey to inquire about his wife, I noticed that all the windows were shut.
I says "Lukey the blinds are down"
"Me wife is dead and she's underground"
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
When I told Lukey that the window was shut, he informed me that his wife had passed away and been buried.
Well I says Lukey "I don't care"
Ha, me boys!
When Lukey informed me about his wife, I responded by telling him I didn't care.
I says Lukey "I don't care"
"I'll get me another in the spring of the year"
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
I told Lukey I will find another wife when spring comes.
Oh, Lukey's rolling out his grub,
Ha, me boys!
Lukey is getting his food ready to consume.
Lukey's rolling out his grub,
One split pea, and a ten-pound tub,
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
In his meal, Lukey has a split pea, along with a massive ten-pound container of food.
Well, Lukey's boat's got high-topped sails,
Ha, me boys!
Lukey's boat has tall sails that are specifically designed to transport him through the water with ease.
Lukey's boat's got high-topped sails
The sheet was planted with copper nails,
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
The sheet that controls Lukey's high-topped sails is reinforced by copper nails to prevent damage and make it more durable.
Lukey's boat is painted green,
It's the prettiest boat that you've ever seen,
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
Lukey's boat is a stunning, green vessel that is most likely the most beautiful boat one has ever laid their eyes upon.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, LEAN GROUND MUSIC LTD., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ALAN DOYLE, BOB HALLETT, DARRELL POWER, SEAN MCCANN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind