Great Big Sea Great Big Sea Lyrics

In 1993, a youthful quartet recorded a self-titled, independently produced debut album. They had been playing their own brand of Scots/Irish-influenced folk-rock to increasingly loyal audiences throughout Canada for several years, so there was a pre-existing demand. But it just kept growing! Thus begins the astonishing tale of how an obscure band from Newfoundland gradually evolved into a platinum-selling international phenomenon. Six albums later, their resources have broadened considerably, but the essence of their patented sound was obviously there from the beginning. Strong, tightly harmonized vocals, driving guitars, a profound mastery of Celtic instruments and traditions, plus a gleeful, uninhibited way with a hook were already part of the band¹s arsenal, much as they are today. Each of the 11 tracks has something to offer, but "The Fisherman's Lament," a bitter dirge about the destruction of Newfoundland's fishing industry, remains in the heart and head long after the music stops. --Christina Roden