Great Big Sea
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.
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.
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Great Big Sea Lyrics
03 The River Driver I was just the age of sixteen When I first went…
06 Oh Yeah I'm gone You can't get ahold of me So long It's coming over…
06. Haven't Seen You In A Long Time I haven't seen you in a long time Since I've been…
08. Captain Wedderburn A noblemen's fair daughter Came down a narrow lane. And met …
10 Old Brown's Daughter There is an ancient party at the other end of…
14 John Barbour What ails you, my daughter dear? Your eyes, they look so…
A Boat Like Gideon Brown Oh Gideon lived across the bay He's gettin' older now His bo…
Bad as I Am Here I go again, my heart's on the line. I'm willing…
Banks Of Newfoundland Me bully boys of Liverpool And I'll have you all beware When…
Barque in the Harbour From a barge in the harbor I went roaming on…
Beat the Drum I still hear the snares in the square Colors ablaze in…
Berry Picking Time Well I spied a berry bush as I was strolling…
Billy Peddle Billy Peddle Billy Peddle did you see Tom White? Billy Peddl…
BLack Rum I drank sixteen doubles for the price of one Trying to…
Boston & St. John's Girl, don't tell me that it's morning Can we keep the…
Buying Time I stayed awake for hours again last night Searchin' for a…
Can From the first hello you gave to me I've done…
Can't Stop Falling I wasn't looking for a lover, I wasn't looking for…
Captain Kidd [Chorus] My name is Captain Kidd As I sailed, as I sailed Oh…
Captain Wedderburn A noblemen's fair daughter Came down a narrow lane. And met …
Clearest Indication You left in the morning You left without a word Did you…
Cod Liver Oil I'm a young married man and I'm tired of life Ten…
Come and I Will Sing You Come and I will sing you What will you sing me I…
Come and I Will Sing You (The Twelve Apostles) Come and I will sing you, What will you sing me? I…
Company Of Fools Many a truest word Has been spoken by the Jester Standing ag…
Concerning Charlie Horse Come all ye friends, I'll sit you down And sing an…
Consequence Free Wouldn't it be great If no one ever got offended Wouldn't it…
Dance Dance Friday night, seventeen Got my hands on the wheel But my min…
Dear Home Town No one knows, What's waiting; where you go. Nothings certa…
Demasduit Dream I dreamt I saw a woman Standing by the strand Waiting for…
Don't Wanna Go Home I don't wanna go home! Don't bring the lights up, don't…
Donkey Riding Way hey and a way we go donkey riding donkey…
Dream To Live Set off for America far across the ragin' sea From the…
Drunken Sailor What do you do with a drunken sailor, What do you…
End of the World It's the end of the world as know, I feel…
England We were far from the shores of England Far from…
Everything Shines Hey, come this May We'll be runnin' in the sun again Your…
Excursion Around the Bay Well it was on this Monday morning And the day be…
Fast as I Can From the first hello you gave to me I've done…
Feel It Turn I had a dream I was moving forward Floating gently to…
Ferryland Sealer Oh, our schooner and our sloop in Ferryland they do…
Fisherman's Lament I stand in my doorway as the moon rises high Over…
Fishermans Lament I stand in my doorway as the moon rises high Over…
Follow Me Back Slowly came these words to me Simple and plain and true Shel…
Fortune There's lots of fish in Bonavish Harbour Lots of fish right…
French Perfume It's of a bold young smuggler From Fortune he did sail He…
French Shore When I was a young man, just barely fourteen Craving adventu…
Gallows Pole Hangman, hangman! Hold a little while, I think I see my br…
General Taylor Well General Taylor gained the day Walk him along, John, Car…
Gideon Brown Oh Gideon lived across the bay He's gettin' older now His bo…
Goin Up Well come gather all around me There is something you should…
Gone By the Board Great big sea hove in Long Beach, Whack fal-o-ral tad-dle d…
Good People The world today can be a scary place; Hard to keep…
Graceful fancy brings a thought to me of flower so bright and…
Great Big Sea Great big sea hove in Long Beach, Whack fal-o-ral tad-dle di…
Greenspond Greenspond is a pretty place, And so is Pinchard's Island Mo…
Hangin' Johnny Oh they call me Hangin' Johnny Away, boys, away But I never…
Harbour LeCou As I rode ashore from my schooner close by A girl…
Hard Case She goes down fast and comes up slow Gets in high…
Have a Cuppa Tea Granny's always ravin' and rantin' And she's always puffin a…
Haven't Seen You In A Long Time I haven't seen you in a long time Since I've been…
Haven`t Seen You In a Long Time I haven't seen you in a long time Since I've been…
Heart of Hearts If the last thing I see is your face If the…
Helmet Head I was just seventeen, when I made the AHL I couldn't…
Here And Now The sun must set to rise The light will leave your…
Here Comes My Baby In the midnight, moonlight hour I keep walking alone that l…
Hit The Ground And Run Oh there's a Wedding in the chapel, And the bride is…
Home For a Rest You'll have to excuse me, I'm not at my best I've…
How Did We Get From Saying "I Love You" "It's a cold day for September" was all I thought…
How Did We Get From Saying "I Love You"... "It's a cold day for September", was all I thought…
How Did We Get From Saying 'I Love You' "It's a cold day for September" was all I thought…
I I am the fountain of affection I'm the instrument of joy And…
I'm a Rover Though the night be dark as dungeon, not a star…
I'se the B'y I's the b'ye that builds the boat And I's the b'ye…
Irish Paddy / Festival Reel / Roger's Reel Its of an Irishman I'm going to tell you Free from…
Irish Paddy/Festival Reel/Roger's Reel Its of an Irishman I'm going to tell you Free from…
Ise The By I'se The B'y that builds the boat and I'se The B'y…
It's The End of The World As We Know It That's great, it starts with an earthquake, birds and snakes…
It's the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine) It's the end of the world as we know it,…
Jack Hinks Ah, when Jack comes ashore He's got money galore And he's …
Jakey When I was a young man I was let astray I…
Jakey's Gin When I was a young man I was let astray I…
John Barbour What ails you, my daughter dear? Your eyes, they look so…
Jolly Roving Tar Ships may come and ships may go As long as the…
Let It Go Hey man, you don't know what you're missing You count your…
Little Beggarman (Traditional - Arr. GBS) Well, I am a little beggarman, a…
Long Life It's long life This i do believe I never thought that we'd…
Long Lost Love I'd walk a thousand miles for you honey I'd walk a…
Love Love Lalalala Love When we're together why does something a…
Love Me Tonight We've waited all this time This long and lonely time The lig…
Lucky Me He was born a sailors son Nothing came easy or free He…
Lukey Well oh, Lukey's boat is painted green, Ha, me boys! Lukey's…
Margarita I see you in the front row, dancing up and…
Mari There's a neat little lass and her name is Mari-Mac And…
Mari Mac There's a neat little lass and her name is Mari-Mac And…
Mari-Mac There's a neat little lass and her name is Mari-Mac And…
mary The first good joy that Mary had, it was the…
Mary Mac There's a neat little lass and her name is Mari-Mac And…
My Apology It's not the way that I intended this I didn't realize,…
Nothing But A Song A brother can be difficult a blessing and a curse but livi…
Nothing out of Nothing Left my home and family by the ocean Out on my…
Oh Yeah I'm gone You can't get ahold of me So long It's coming over…
Old Black Rum I drank sixteen doubles for the price of one Trying to…
Old Brown There is an ancient party at the other end of…
Old Polina There's a noble fleet of whalers They're sailing from Dunde…
Ordinary Day I've got a smile on my face, and I've got…
Over the Hills Ye boys and girls that have a mind. To leave your…
Own True Way It's takes a lot to get to the top And a…
Penelope Penelope works in the market Down in the coconut trees She's…
Rant & Roar Chorus: We'll rant and we'll roar like true Newfoundlanders …
Rant and Roar We'll rant and we'll roar like true Newfoundlanders We'll ra…
Recruiting Sargeant Two recruiting sergeants came to the CLB, For the sons of…
Rigadoon Well, I am a little beggarman, a begging I have…
River Driver I was just the age of sixteen When I first went…
Road to Ruin Meet me in the morning and I'll be happy as…
Rocks Of Merasheen The fondest wish I ever had since the day that…
Run Run Away I like black and white Dream in black in white You like…
Safe Upon The Shore A girl upon the shore did ask a favour of…
Sally Ann All eyes on Her from dawn till dusk Hanging on Her…
Scolding Wife Well I came into a scolding wife a few short…
Sea of No Cares When you're in love there's no time and no space There's…
Seagulls She left St.John's one day in May Dressed in her Sunday…
Seven Joys of Mary (Traditional - Arr. GBS) The first good joy that Mary had I…
Shine Right Through Me These days I feel a change, All the patterns rearranged Thou…
Someday Soon They keep talking of the things they'd do if we'd…
Someday's Some days I feel sad and lonely Some days I feel…
Somedays Some days I feel sad and lonely Some days I feel…
Something Beautiful [Chorus:] Hey You, you lost your only friend You can't belie…
Something I Should Know Am I leaving you tomorrow, I can't see Is this how it's…
Something to It I'm sorry if I ruined your day I really hope that…
Straight To Hell Love me now while we're alive It's the best thing we…
Stumbling In I don't mind confiding That I make stupid mistakes Been misl…
Summer She doesn't see the coming fall She doesn't show no fear…
Sweet Forget Me Not fancy brings a thought to me of flower so bright and…
The Black Rum I drank sixteen doubles for the price of one Trying to…
The Chemical Worker [Chorus] And its go boys go They'll time your every breath …
The Chemical Worker's Sing [Chorus] And its go boys go They'll time your every brea…
The Chemical Worker's Song [Chorus] And its go boys go They'll time your every breath …
The Chemical Worker's Song (Process Man) Chorus: And it's go boys go They'll time your every breath …
The Jolly Butcher CHORUS: Oh won't you come along with me love Come along with…
The Mermaid When I was a lad in a fishing town Me old…
The Night Pat Murphy Died Oh the night that Paddy Murphy died, is a night…
The Old Black Rum I drank sixteen doubles for the price of one Trying to…
The River Driver I was just the age of sixteen When I first went…
Tickle Cove Pond In cuttin' and haulin' in frost and in snow We're up…
Time Brings Hearken to me both high and low I'll sing for you…
Tishialuk Girls Set Tishialuk girls are neat and tidy, Tishialuk girls it won't…
Trios Navaires De Blé Un gros coup de vent de nordet-nous irons jouer sur…
Walk On The Moon Is it just me, or a message from above? Bells are…
Wandering Ways Farewell to the whiskey, tobacco and smoke! Farewell to the…
Wave over Wave Only name Table Rogers a share man am I On a…
What Are You At Well I was walking in the main land city And I…
What Are You At? Well I was walking in the main land city And I…
whem i'm up I am the fountain of affection I'm the instrument of joy And…
When I Wake up Without a care Your head's not heavy, your conscie…
When I Am King Wake up Without a care Your head's not heavy, your conscienc…
When I'm Up I am the fountain of affection I'm the instrument of joy And…
Widow in the Window Waiting for the nightingale to sing Waiting for the harbour…
Yankee Sailor We were poor But I was satisfied And I thought that you…
Yarmouth Town In Yarmouth town there lived a man He had a little…