Great Big Sea was a Canadian folk rock/celtic rock band from Newfoundland a… Read Full Bio ↴Great Big Sea was a Canadian folk rock/celtic rock band from Newfoundland and Labrador, best known for performing energetic rock interpretations of traditional Newfoundland folk songs including sea shanties, which draw from the island's 500-year Irish, Scottish, and Cornish heritage. The band was very successful in Canada, with eleven of their albums being certified Gold in the country, including four being certified Platinum and two achieving multi-platinum certifications. Between 1996 and 2016, Great Big Sea was the sixteenth best-selling Canadian artist in Canada and the sixth best-selling Canadian band in Canada.

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.

Mari
Great Big Sea Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

There's a neat little lass and her name is Mari-Mac
And make no mistake she's the girl I'm gonna track
Lots of other fellas try to get her on the back.
But I'm thinkin' they'll have to get up early.

[Chorus]
Mari-Macs mother's makin' Mari-Mac marry me
My mother's makin' me marry Mari-Mac

Well I'm gonna marry Mari cause Mari's takin' care o' me.
We'll all be feelin' marry when I marry Mari-Mac.

Now Mari and her mother are an awful lot together
In fact you hardly see the one without the other
And people often wonder if it's Mari or her mother
Or both of them together I'm courting

[Chorus]

Well up among the heather in the hills of Benafee
Well I had a Bonnie lass sittin' on my knee
A bumble bee stung me right above the knee
Up among the heather in the hills of Benafee

[Chorus]

Well I said to bonnie lass how we gonna pass the day
She said among the heather in the hills of Benafee
Where all the boys and girls are making out so free
Up among the heather in the hills of Benafee

[Chorus]

Wedding's on a Wednesday, everything's arranged
Soon you'll never change your mind unless you minus change
Of making the arrangements and feelings lots of rage
Marriage is an awful undertaking

[Chorus]

Sure to be a grand for grand of that a fair
Gonna be a fork and plate for every man that's there
And I'll be a bugger if I don't get my share
All though I may be very much mistaken

[Chorus]

There's a neat little lass and her name is Mari Mac
Make no mistake, she's the girl I'm gonna track
Lot's of other fellas try to get her on her back
But I think they're gonna have to get up early

[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

The song "Mari-Mac" by Great Big Sea is a tribute to a young woman named Mari-Mac. According to the lyrics, the singer is pursuing Mari-Mac romantically, despite competition from other suitors. In the chorus, it is revealed that their mothers are actually the ones pushing for their union, causing some confusion and speculation among others about who is really interested in whom. The singer tells of a previous romantic encounter with a different woman, which was interrupted by an unfortunate bee sting, which led to the suggestion of going up to the hills of Benafee to continue their tryst.

The lyrics of "Mari-Mac" are playful and lighthearted, but also highlight some of the pressures and emotions associated with relationships and marriage. The repeated reference to their mothers making the arrangements for their marriage suggests some cultural influence, and the somewhat negative reference to marriage being an "awful undertaking" plays on the idea that love and commitment are not always easy.

Line by Line Meaning

There's a neat little lass and her name is Mari-Mac
I know a pretty girl named Mari-Mac

And make no mistake she's the girl I'm gonna track
I'm pursuing her and won't give up

Lots of other fellas try to get her on the back.
Many other men try to seduce her

But I'm thinkin' they'll have to get up early.
I believe they'll have a tough time competing with me

[Chorus]
Refrain

Mari-Macs mother's makin' Mari-Mac marry me
Mari-Mac's mother wants her to wed me

My mother's makin' me marry Mari-Mac
My own mother is also pressuring me to wed Mari-Mac

Well I'm gonna marry Mari cause Mari's takin' care o' me.
I'll take her hand in marriage because she takes good care of me

We'll all be feelin' marry when I marry Mari-Mac.
We will all be happy when Mari-Mac and I get married

Now Mari and her mother are an awful lot together
Mari and her mother spend a lot of time together

In fact you hardly see the one without the other
It's rare to see one without the other

And people often wonder if it's Mari or her mother
People are often unsure who they're speaking to, Mari or her mother

Or both of them together I'm courting
I may be courting both of them at the same time

[Chorus]
Refrain

Well up among the heather in the hills of Benafee
One time while in the hills of Benafee

Well I had a Bonnie lass sittin' on my knee
There was a pretty girl sitting on my lap

A bumble bee stung me right above the knee
A bee stung me right above my knee

Up among the heather in the hills of Benafee
In the hills of Benafee

[Chorus]
Refrain

Well I said to bonnie lass how we gonna pass the day
I asked the pretty girl how we'd spend the day

She said among the heather in the hills of Benafee
She suggested we spend it in the hills of Benafee

Where all the boys and girls are making out so free
Where couples are romantically together without worry

Up among the heather in the hills of Benafee
In the hills of Benafee

[Chorus]
Refrain

Wedding's on a Wednesday, everything's arranged
Our wedding is planned for a Wednesday, and everything is set

Soon you'll never change your mind unless you minus change
You'll change your mind only if something drastic happens

Of making the arrangements and feelings lots of rage
Planning a wedding often leads to much frustration

Marriage is an awful undertaking
Getting married can be a daunting experience

[Chorus]
Refrain

Sure to be a grand for grand of that a fair
The event will be grand and impressive

Gonna be a fork and plate for every man that's there
There will be plenty of food to go around

And I'll be a bugger if I don't get my share
I'll be disappointed if I don't get to partake

All though I may be very much mistaken
Although I could be wrong

[Chorus]
Refrain

There's a neat little lass and her name is Mari Mac
I know a pretty girl named Mari-Mac

Make no mistake, she's the girl I'm gonna track
I'm pursuing her and won't give up

Lot's of other fellas try to get her on her back
Many other men try to seduce her

But I think they're gonna have to get up early
I believe they'll have a tough time competing with me

[Chorus]
Refrain

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BARRY THOMAS PRIVETT, CARTER GRAVATT, SCOTT ANDREW MILSTEAD, TERRELL H. CLARK, UNKNOWN PD WRITER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@Canadia_Ball

4y↑21

There's a neat little lass and her name is Mari Mac
Make no mistake, she's the girl I'm gonna track
Lot of other fellas try to get her on her back
But I'm thinking that they'll have to get up early

Mari Mac's mother's making Mari Mac marry me
My mother's making me marry Mari Mac
Well I'm going to marry Mari for when Mari's taking care of me
We'll all be feeling merry when I marry Mari Mac

Now Mari and her mother are an awful lot together
In fact you hardly see the one without the other
And people often wonder if it's Mari or her mother
Or both of them together I am courting

Mari Mac's mother's making Mari Mac marry me
My mother's making me marry Mari Mac
Well I'm going to marry Mari for when Mari's taking care of me
We'll all be feeling merry when I marry Mari Mac

Well up among the heather in the hills of Bonifee
Well I had a bonnie lass sitting on me knee
A bumble bee stung me right above me knee
Up among the heather in the hills of Benifee

Mari Mac's mother's making Mari Mac marry me
My mother's making me marry Mari Mac
Well I'm going to marry Mari for when Mari's taking care of me
We'll all be feeling merry when I marry Mari Mac

Well I said "Wee bonnie lassie, where you going to spend the day?"
She said "Among the heather in the hills of Benifee"
Where all the boys and girls are making out so free
Up among the heather in the hills of Benifee

Mari Mac's mother's making Mari Mac marry me
My mother's making me marry Mari Mac
Well I'm going to marry Mari for when Mari's taking care of me
We'll all be feeling merry when I marry Mari Mac

The wedding's on Wednesday, everything's arranged
Soon her name will be changed to mine unless her mind be changed
And making the arrangements, I'm feeling quite deranged
Marriage is an awful undertaking

Mari Mac's mother's making Mari Mac marry me
My mother's making me marry Mari Mac
Well I'm going to marry Mari for when Mari's taking care of me
We'll all be feeling merry when I marry Mari Mac

Sure to be a grand affair, grander than a fair
Going to be a fork and plate for every man that's there
And I'll be a bugger if I don't get my share
If I don't we'll be very much mistaken

Mari Mac's mother's making Mari Mac marry me
My mother's making me marry Mari Mac
Well I'm going to marry Mari for when Mari's taking care of me
We'll all be feeling merry when I marry Mari Mac

There's a neat little lass and her name is Mari Mac
Make no mistake, she's the girl I'm gonna track
Lot of other fellas try to get up on her back
I'm thinking that they'll have to get up early

Mari Mac's mother's making Mari Mac marry me
My mother's making me marry Mari Mac
Well I'm going to marry Mari for when Mari's taking care of me
We'll all be feeling merry when I marry Mari Mac

All comments from YouTube:

@faelynlumb1763

1y↑15

I used to sing this all the time as a kid. My whole family would sing along and compete to see who could keep up the longest. You always went into it confident that you would make it to the end this time, only to end up out of breath, giggling , and babbling gibberish.

@diannerobb9900

4y↑20

In memory of my dear friend, Mary Mac, who got such a kick out of this song. RIP. xoxo

@tylerbarron8188

38w↑2

Loves our music glad from here out around da bay by

@midnightmadness5307

3y↑28

This is brilliance!!! Would love to see Barenaked Ladies and Great Big Sea collaborate. That would be awesome..

@hgdfihdjk

Too bad GBS is retired.

@mohcine7487

On the low dawg

@pepepepert

25w

SO great big naked ladies?

@MyNameIzPaigee

11y↑26

i remember trying to sing this in music class while the whole class had out wooden spoons.. grade 6 was amazing

@JFK.Robot.Knight

8y↑55

Man, this whole song is a tongue twister. What a shanty though.

@tamaraj4200

5y↑2

Yep but as a teen I knew it by heart, and still can sing along to them.

@Mandolorian1001

4y↑3

Not a shanty..

@darrylhughes2176

I can’t help it if we talk faster than you can think !! Lol

@angelinaballerina742

@@darrylhughes2176lol

@richmurray8992

2y↑5

This was the first GBS song I ever heard, way back when it was brand new. It's still one of my favorites. I forget how handsome Sean was back then. (He still is, of course.)

@chimutt

15w

Almost pretty, back then. Very good-looking.

@MicahWo

28w↑1

There is a town in WI called Merrimac. When my father was in hospital in Madison i had to drive by that town several times a week going to and from the hospital. Every time I drive by that exit I would sing "Mari Mack's mother's making Mari Mack marry me, my mother's making me marry Mari Mack!" at the top of my lungs.
Had a friend ride down with me once and scared the hell out of him, I didn't even think about having someone else in the car, it was just automatic by that point.

@deborahallen3349

3y↑10

So glad the Thunder Birds found a back up gig, always loved the show...and this one too!

@TheWanderlustWolf

11y↑61

In Missouri, this song could gain a whole new level of confusion because we have a river called the Meramac.

@goldkillah1576

7y↑1

hahahaha

@thewayfaringgoblin4544

Hahaha....close enough ey lol

@Ilovewomenandmen

4y↑2

My grandma thought it was a song about River Meramac

@olaughthelightlyspotting4639

3y↑4

they could get married on a replica of the merrimack ironclad on the meramac river//marry mary mac on the merrimack on the meramac.DOO DOO LA DEE DOO DA LA LEE DAY

@williamhardway6436

3y↑1

Oh gods. Thatd send anyone for a loop

2 More Replies...

@TheRivalConcept

8y↑13

this song as 1995? i was like 6yrs old and I am not a Newfie but TGBS has to be one of my favourite bands

@jibbzatron1668

6y↑1

Yea those Landers have good talent for sure

@markstead7685

3y↑1

Gotta love Newfoundland putting Canada on the map proud to be from this province of Newfoundland

@dylanvalorfall

10y↑39

This is actually so intense. So much talent.

@joshthorne3721

6y↑29

I love showing Americas this when I'm away on work haha they don't believe I can talk that fast tell I gets drunk

@wonderfulwenna2710

Josh Thorne 😏

@williamhardway6436

Cheers mate

@williamhardway6436

4y↑1

It's not fair. They have to sound out the words as the go cause they cocked with the spelling of everything

@swebber1981

When I’m
Back home in Newfoundland my pace of talking goes from fast to faster

@j_siple5017

3y↑2

Here in 2021 cause no one else is. And its there loss

@denisemartin2735

11y↑5

One of my favorites songs by them!!!!

@nicholaswarman6794

7y↑3

Just LISTENING to this song makes me tongue sore

@ken_danerdiest1

3y↑2

I've seen this music video on the Much Music channel back in '96. Quite catchy!

@MuseFromGallifrey

13y↑5

This is the most canadian thing I have ever seen.

@devlenwhite9700

2y↑1

Just amazing

@louisandsteph

3y↑1

i love this song

@PrimalFurry2

10y↑2

You guys are the best in the world

@Canadia_Ball

4y↑21

@wonderfulwenna2710

Canadian Mapper now learn to sing it😊👍

@Canadia_Ball

4y↑1

@@wonderfulwenna2710 I already did.

@wonderfulwenna2710

Canadian Mapper 👍it’s a fun song to play and sing😊

@lemonlime27

you the real MVP

@angelinaballerina742

@@wonderfulwenna2710yeah but I keep on messing up

@brigidstephenson4736

11y↑2

Awesome frustration and passion. Captured perfectly, lol.

@Admiral8Q

8y↑3

Marriage at it's finest.

@brigids9

12y↑1

Hot Damn! Beautifully done

@alanthomasdoyle5728

3y↑1

Thanks alot Brigid I really do appreciate 🥰

@marimiracl

13y

luv luv luv

@aysenur9826

4y↑1

When i finally able to sing this , ill mention it in my Cv

@schmurrproductions4701

It is a useful skill.

@owenstevens1592

3y↑1

2020

@SkyrimTutorials

11y↑1

Everybody shut up and enjoy this great song!

@casiedragmire4686

7y↑3

How do they sing this at the speed that they do?! It takes a lot of practice, I'll say that.

@The_Keh27

42w↑1

I mean, they also did a version of It's the End of the World As We Know It and it's much faster than REM's version

@Shadowkey392

9y↑8

how many times do you think they got tongue-tied while trying to sing this?

@jeffdemas9521

8y↑4

Newfies speak fast, so I doubt they got tongue twisted.

@SimplyMagic123

7y↑5

ever heard a newfie talk? the men put even the fastest talking woman to shame lol and im pretty sure the newfie lady's would give eminem a run for his money

@angelinaballerina742

@@jeffdemas9521I’m a Newfie myself but I can’t talk fast like that

@Sh1tbagActual

13y↑45

This just redeemed Canada of the massive musical mistake of Justin Bieber

@RandomRandom-um1wi

4y↑8

This came out before Justin Bieber polluted Canadian airwaves.

@matttherrien9608

3y↑1

I propose we make the new national anthem.

@phenixevelyphd2149

1y↑1

Cool tune. But this is what happens when the people that are paying for the job, trust the NFLD gov and CBC to manage anything.

@ophelias4172

1y↑1

I went to see them when this album came out. It’s probably one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to.

@kilted1776

@@ophelias4172 I think I have seen them a half dozen times

1 More Replies...

@j_siple5017

Mari-Mac

@annerchisline9641

12y

This one is fun to sing.

@MustaMaagi

11y↑2

For the horde brother!!!

@cidb.212

10y↑3

Dese guys are de friggin' bomb, b'ys. (Yes, poor attempt at a Newfoundland accent). I loves ye!

@brigids9

10y↑1

Agh! I know how he feels.

@elmolly93

12y

@BMFRaw so true

@DoctorLazers

11y↑5

They're Newfies, angry is fun.

@weirdmoss

12y

well i like it :)

@isuina4727

1y↑2

Fck I'm gettin old

@UndrState

50w↑1

Me too brah

@JohnMcClane99

11y

It's never to late to make ammends

@owenstevens1592

3y↑1

1995

@owenstevens1592

3y↑3

Wallace And Gromit A Close Shave

@angelinaballerina742

Not to be mean but what does Wallace and Gromit have to do with anything

@ianjohnson171

10y

The ultimate tongue twister!

@larryjordanwhittington2344

10y

I can do this one, it's fun! :D

@djtimemasheen7585

3y↑1

what are we gonna do with the drunken sailor, early in the morning!

@aysenur9826

5y↑3

İm trying to say it with lyrics but i only can say mrymrymry

@MrGibbs189

12y

i cant tell if his face is red or its just the lights

@AdamCousineau

Cannot believe this has so little views

@owenstevens1592

3y↑1

Vincent Van Gogh Mustache

@angelinaballerina742

Can anyone tell me...why these guys can sing faster than me...while every time I sing like that it ends up as slurred speech

@madamepirate5262

7y↑1

Great song, terrifying puppets

@angelinaballerina742

The puppets give me nightmares too

@taimailing

12y

Newfy rap music.....

@Venkman007

11y

Um. This came out in 1995-96, well before the Beebs.

@kalerias

13y

@BMFRaw it's the irish blood

@brandonskanesauthor

13y

sean is fucking wicked

@snowbarbieblue

12y

Chill, mate........

@dpool5524

1y↑1

Im not Irish, but maybe I am

@liamholt6921

If it's in your heart, you can be Irish every March 17th 😊.

And your Irish while listening to Irish music!! 🐾🐾☘️

@Sweeney1988

12y

yea... as an Irish i'll accept this. Pretty good :)

@keana8714127

11y

rofl

@owenstevens1592

3y↑1

Preston

@Kkravy

13y

1 person is marrying Marry Mac.

@Vangrungy

13y

newfies are cool.. especially when they aren't on the dole...

@DiamondDreads

11y

lol @ their old hairstyles

@ChaseofSpades13

13y

He's angry because he's got to marry a puppet

@matttherrien9608

Catchier than herpes!

@Masterkavi

13y

He's angry because her mother is far too involved, and is forcing the marriage, I think.

@crassenti

1y↑1

Omegle

@hgdfihdjk

That must have been hard to sing.

@brucecollins4729

this is a scottish sang but i would not attempt it.

@Laughinopoulous

12y↑6

The most Irish song ever by a non-Irish band

@brucecollins4729

4y↑4

its a Scottish song, not irish

@alanthomasdoyle5728

Carly hope you doing good?

@charliedennis3239

WTF Did I just watch

@matttherrien9608

You loved it, admit it!

@the_real_goofy

3y↑1

Eminem's been real quiet since this dropped

@katoppie

12y

Nah. That's about the average speed of our speech.

@alanthomasdoyle5728

❤️

@maxwellmantell4301

creepy puppets

@samplerstitcher

12y

Justin Beeber is Canukian? Ugh.

@maxmantell5009

Creepy puppets

@angelinaballerina742

Right

@DoctorLazers

11y

You act like America has never produced a bad musician.

@taxi911

11y↑1

He's not a Canadian mistake. He's a Canadian wrapped up in U.S. packaging.

@justlisenable

11y↑1

Why has this become a competition between Canada and the US? This is a Canadian band, and has nothing to do with the US. So why is there a competition? Both countries have bad artists, and both have really good ones. You're assuming that one country is better than the other because of the music that they produce. It's sick.