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.
Something Beautiful
Great Big Sea Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey You, you lost your only friend
You can't believe you're broken heart will ever mend
But every mountain has its faces that'd make you want to stop
On this so unwelcome journey from the bottom to the top
Move along
I believe there's Something Beautiful to see
I believe there's Something Beautiful
Just waiting for you and me
I know you'll never count the tears you've cried
Though you've asked a million questions
No one could tell you why
A single soul is chosen to be the one put to the test
But there will be some consolation for a heart that never rests
The years will make us older
The winters make us colder
And there's one more thing I've come to know for sure
There's no bitterness that smolders, no chip on any shoulder
That a random act of kindness couldn't cure
[Chorus]
The song "Something Beautiful" by Great Big Sea is a reassuring and uplifting message to someone who feels alone and broken-hearted. The lyrics in the chorus are a direct address to the person, telling them not to give up and to keep moving forward because there is always something beautiful to see. The first verse acknowledges the pain and the difficult journey the person is going through, but the second verse offers hope and encouragement. The idea that there is no bitterness or chip on their shoulder that a random act of kindness couldn't cure is a powerful reminder to embrace empathy and goodness.
The song speaks to the human experience of facing adversity and the ways in which we can support and lift each other up. It encourages us to look beyond our immediate pain and think about the beauty that is still out there waiting for us. The music itself is joyful and lively, adding to the sense of hope and optimism. Overall, "Something Beautiful" is a song about resilience and hope, reminding us that even in our darkest moments, we can find something to hold onto and keep moving forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey You, you lost your only friend
Addressing someone who has lost their closest companion or confidant.
You can't believe you're broken heart will ever mend
Feeling traumatized by heartbreak and thinking that it is impossible to recover from it.
But every mountain has its faces that'd make you want to stop
Obstacles and challenges in life can be discouraging and make one want to give up.
On this so unwelcome journey from the bottom to the top
Life is full of ups and downs and one must climb their way from the bottom to the top despite how unwelcome it may feel.
Move along
Stay positive and keep going despite hardships.
I believe there's Something Beautiful to see
Hopeful that there is something beautiful to be seen in the world despite the current circumstances.
Just waiting for you and me
Believing that the something beautiful is not too far out of reach and can be attained.
I know you'll never count the tears you've cried
Acknowledging that the person has gone through a lot of emotional pain and has cried many tears.
Though you've asked a million questions
Despite searching for answers through countless questions, there seem to be no clear solutions.
No one could tell you why
Despite seeking explanations, nobody has the answer to the question of why things happen the way they do.
A single soul is chosen to be the one put to the test
Believing that life's struggles are a test of one's character and inner strength.
But there will be some consolation for a heart that never rests
Those who continue to persevere and endure despite hardships will eventually find some level of comfort or peace in their hearts.
The years will make us older
Time will continue to pass and we will inevitably age.
The winters make us colder
Life's challenges and difficulties can make people become more guarded and less trusting.
And there's one more thing I've come to know for sure
Having reached a level of understanding through experiences and reflection.
There's no bitterness that smolders, no chip on any shoulder
Realizing that there is no room for bitterness or resentment in one's heart.
That a random act of kindness couldn't cure
Kindness has the power to heal and bring joy to those in need of it.
[Chorus]
Reiterating the idea that despite hardships, there is something beautiful to be found in life.
Lyrics © CCS RIGHTS MANAGEMENT CORP, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ALAN THOMAS DOYLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brigid Stephenson
if you have ever been in a place where you felt like you could just lose it - this song tells you there is hope.
Andrew Serrata
Brigid Stephenson Must've been an experience.
mads mikkleson
This song is so beautiful and it brings so much sentiment along with it.
BOBLECK
My beloved wife just passed away. This song was one of the 1st that came to mind for me to find comfort and healing. Thank you Great Big Sea for such an inspirational song.
Christine B
very sorry for your loss
DWSimmy
I remember when I was 9, I'd be coming home from my nonnas house with my mom, and when we were driving by Lake Ontario, we'd always play this album :')
rventr1
I love this song. I've only herd of GBS three months ago and every time I hear one of their songs I can't help but clicking like
Cindy Ross
I could be wrong but I believe the album was inspired by one if their friends who committed suicide.
My absolutely favourite album.
Victoria
love this song, very positive!
Mihai Costache
Born in 1974 but I was today years old when i found this gem