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Great Big Sea Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
Great Big Sea Quizzes, Trivia

Great Big Sea Trivia

Great Big Sea Trivia Quizzes

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Fun Trivia
6 quizzes and 60 trivia questions.
1.
  Great Big Sea = Great Big Trivia    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
In Canada, we're pretty proud of our talent. The popular folk band Great Big Sea may have only been active for twenty years, between 1993 and 2013, but they are still loved. Take this quiz to test your knowledge on the band and their songs.
Average, 10 Qns, lordprescott, Sep 30 22
Average
lordprescott gold member
Sep 30 22
99 plays
2.
  My Great Big Great Big Sea Quiz   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
My sister and I are huge Great Big Sea fans, so I thought I would write a quiz on our favourite band.
Tough, 10 Qns, jojanne1974, Jan 13 10
Tough
jojanne1974
280 plays
3.
  Great Big Sea Lyrics    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz has some songs from almost every CD-- hope you enjoy!
Average, 10 Qns, great_big_sea, May 02 10
Average
great_big_sea
406 plays
4.
  People in Great Big Sea songs    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a little quiz to test your knowledge of Great Big Sea lyrics. The name of the song is provided to make things easier.
Tough, 10 Qns, faxman, Sep 01 04
Tough
faxman
374 plays
5.
  The Great Big Quiz    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a short quiz about Great Big Sea. It includes questions about Darrell Power, Sean McCann, Bob Hallett, and Alan Doyle. Be prepared to answer questions about all of their CDs. Enjoy!
Tough, 10 Qns, lil'dancer, Jan 28 04
Tough
lil'dancer
400 plays
6.
  Great Big Sea    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a great band. My favorite song is "The Night Pat Murphy Died" because I know someone named Patty Murphy.
Average, 10 Qns, purple122988, May 28 05
Average
purple122988
571 plays
trivia question Quick Question
What was the name of GBS's first song on their first CD?

From Quiz "Great Big Sea Lyrics"





Great Big Sea Trivia Questions
1. All four of the original band members (Alan, Sean, Bob and Darrell) share a common month for their birthdays. Which month?

From Quiz My Great Big Great Big Sea Quiz

Answer: May

The original band members were all born in the month of May. Alan's birthday is on May 20th, Darrell's birthday is May 21st, Sean's birthday is May 22nd, and Bob's birthday is May 23rd.

2. "John Barbour": What is the name of the captain's daughter who is in love with John Barbour?

From Quiz People in Great Big Sea songs

Answer: Jane

The captain disapproves of his daughter's relationship with John Barbour, he even threatens to hang him. The captain's opinion changes once he meets John Barbour however. This song appears on "Something Beautiful".

3. In "The Night That Pat Murphy Died" what do they put the whiskey with?

From Quiz Great Big Sea

Answer: the corpse

This song was on the albums "Road Rage", "Rant and Roar" and "Play". The people start to have a party instead of a funeral.

4. Although the band shared vocals, one member, in particular, was known as their lead singer. What was his name?

From Quiz Great Big Sea = Great Big Trivia

Answer: Alan Doyle

Sean McCann left the band in 2013, after which the remaining members, Alan, Darell, and Bob Hallet, decided to retire the group. Alan Doyle still performs live quite often, however, and in 2022 he starred in the musical "Tall Tale Harbor" at the 2022 Charlottetown Music Festival. Joseph Hanh is a member of Linkin Park.

5. Finish the line: "And I say wey-hey-hey..."

From Quiz Great Big Sea Lyrics

Answer: It's just an ordinary day

"And its all your state of mind, at the end of the day, you just got to say its all right."

6. "The Jolly Butcher": How much did the jolly butcher pay the girl?

From Quiz People in Great Big Sea songs

Answer: One sovereign

The girl is essentially a prostitute whose services the butcher pays for. She ends up with a baby which she gives to the butcher a year later. The song appears on "Up".

7. "Mari Mac's mother is making Mari Mac..."

From Quiz Great Big Sea

Answer: marry me

This song is on "Up","Rant and Roar" and "Road Rage".It is a tongue twister and the band sings it faster and faster.

8. "Lukey" is a hit song from GBS's second CD, "Up". This song is most commonly known in Newfoundland as what?

From Quiz The Great Big Quiz

Answer: Lukey's Boat

According to GBS, it's from the 'ironic detachment' school of local songs.

9. How does this optimistic lyric finish? "When I'm up I can't get..."

From Quiz Great Big Sea = Great Big Trivia

Answer: down

This is from the second song on the third CD ('Play'). It was written and first recorded in 1993 by the English group Oysterband, but was made famous by Great Big Sea in 1997. It was the group's highest-peaking single, reaching number six on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart.

10. All of the band members sing, but who is the lead vocalist?

From Quiz My Great Big Great Big Sea Quiz

Answer: Alan

Alan Doyle is the lead vocalist. Sean and Bob do sing lead on some songs, "Come and I Will Sing You", "Helmethead" (Bob), "The Night Pat Murphy Died" "Mari-Mac" and "General Taylor" (Sean). Alan is also a proficient songwriter and producer.

11. The song "End of the World" found on "Up and Rant & Roar" was originally written by whom?

From Quiz Great Big Sea Lyrics

Answer: R.E.M.

Any profit Great Big Sea made from this song was given to R.E.M.

12. "General Taylor": On what type of chain was General Taylor lowered into his grave?

From Quiz People in Great Big Sea songs

Answer: Golden

The song is pretty much the eulogy of General Taylor. The song appears on "Play" and "Rant & Roar".

13. "The Night that Pat Murphy Died" was

From Quiz Great Big Sea

Answer: a night I will never forget

This song is about a unforgettable night and funeral.

14. The Bonus Track on "Play" has a line from one of GBS's other songs. Which one?

From Quiz The Great Big Quiz

Answer: Donkey Riding

At about the 1 minute and 15 second mark Sean clearly says "Way hey and way we go", right out of "Donkey Riding". This Bonus Track is 2 minutes of pure GBS energy. It's awesome!

15. Which song, a traditional tune dating as early as the 1850s, ISN'T on 'Up'?

From Quiz Great Big Sea = Great Big Trivia

Answer: Donkey Riding

"Donkey Riding" is featured on the "Play" album. It is a traditional Newfoundland/Atlantic Canadian sea chantey, but its origins can be traced back even further, to Scotland. The tune is derived from the traditional melody of "Highland Laddie", and the donkey that the lyrics refer to is either a type of steam engine (according to Wikipedia) or a type of lift used in the dockyards (according to the album sleeve). The song has been recorded several times by different groups.

16. After many CDs, and numerous tours, Bob Hallett finally sings. Which song from the "Something Beautiful" CD has Bob singing the lead?

From Quiz My Great Big Great Big Sea Quiz

Answer: Helmethead

Sean and Alan doing the majority of the singing, Bob makes his singing debut with "Helmethead", a hockey song. He follows up with "Come and I Will Sing You" on "The Hard and the Easy" CD.

17. In "Hangin Johnny" who does he not hang?

From Quiz Great Big Sea Lyrics

Answer: Father

I like the last line "Well they call me hangin' Seanie".

18. "A Boat Like Gideon Brown": Where did Gideon live in relation to the father and son?

From Quiz People in Great Big Sea songs

Answer: Across the bay

The father desperately wants a boat like Gideon Brown's, but can't afford it. Near his death he tells his son to buy one with his life insurance policy. This song appears on "Sea of No Cares".

19. In "When I'm Up", complete the lyric, When I am up I..."

From Quiz Great Big Sea

Answer: can't get down

This song is on "Road Rage","Rant and Roar","Up" and "Play".

20. On "Turn", we hear GBS sing in French. How does the song's title translate into English?

From Quiz The Great Big Quiz

Answer: Three Wheat Ships

"Trois Navires de Blé" is a traditional song that came to their attention through a fellow St. John's signer. According to their album, it describes a dialogue between some sailors and three sisters on a beach. The sailors wish to sell them wheat and win their hands, but the girls are too smart and the boys fail.

21. Which Canadian province, known for its cod fishing and a proposed site of Viking habituation, is Great Big Sea from?

From Quiz Great Big Sea = Great Big Trivia

Answer: Newfoundland

Newfoundland joined Canada in 1949; prior to this, it had been a separate British dominion. It is also the home of L'Anse aux Meadows, a site that might have been the Vinland settlement described and occupied by Lief Ericson. Great Big Sea is obviously proud of their province and many of their songs relate to Newfoundland. They decided to form the band at a ceilidh (kay-lee, a kitchen party, and another common feature of Atlantic Canada).

22. Great Big Sea won the East Coast Music Award for Entertainer of the Year for five years in a row. Between which years did they win this award?

From Quiz My Great Big Great Big Sea Quiz

Answer: 1996-2000

Winners of the Entertainer of the Year between the years 1996-2000, the band did not win the award in 2001. They had decided in 2001 not to submit their names for nomination, they felt that as previous winners that they would remain out of the running so that someone else would have the opportunity to win the award.

23. In "Barque In The Harbour" what is the nationality of the girl the character meets?

From Quiz Great Big Sea Lyrics

Answer: Spanish

"Just think of the young Spaniard who kept squeezing your hand".

24. "Berry Picking Time": What color are the girl's eyes?

From Quiz People in Great Big Sea songs

Answer: Blue

The boy describes them as "the bluest eyes [he] has ever seen". This song is on "Great Big Sea".

25. In "Excursion Around the Bay" what did some fella haul aboard?

From Quiz Great Big Sea

Answer: my wife

This song is in "Road Rage" and "Great Big Sea". It is a little sad though because the guy's wife dies.

26. What is the name of Great Big Sea's fourth CD, which features a boy on a merry-go-round on its cover?

From Quiz Great Big Sea = Great Big Trivia

Answer: Turn

"Turn" was released in June of 1999. It features such classic songs as "Consequence Free" and "Old Brown's Daughter". By August, the album had gone Platinum in Canada, reaching sales of 133,000 in Canada alone.

27. Great Big Sea became an official band in 1993; who are the four original band members?

From Quiz My Great Big Great Big Sea Quiz

Answer: Alan, Bob, Sean and Darrell

The four original band members are Alan Doyle, Sean McCann, Bob Hallett and Darrell Powers. Their focus was on bringing Newfoundland music and culture to the rest of Canada and the world. Kris Macfarlane and Murray Foster joined the band in 2003.

28. Finish the line "All these things if I were".

From Quiz Great Big Sea Lyrics

Answer: king

What a great song.

29. "Scolding Wife": What is the man willing to sell his wife to the devil for?

From Quiz People in Great Big Sea songs

Answer: A glass or two of gin

The man in this song sings about how horrible his life has been since he got married. Appears on "Sea of No Cares".

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