Actually I would say that half of Great Big Sea's songs are taken from the traditional Newfoundland canon of folksong. The arrangements definitely have a more modern take on them but I think fiddle, accordion, bodhrán and acoustic guitar accompanied traditional songs from one of North America's richest area's of folksong should be considered on this list. Some of the traditional tunes they do from their album Up are A Great Big Sea Hove in Long Beach, Lukey's Boat, The Jolly Butcher, The Ryan's and the and Pittmans. Here is Great Big Sea Hove in Long Beach, which is on their first CD.

A great big sea hove in Long Beach
Right fol-lor a tiddle-iddle I doh
A great big sea hove in Long Beach
And granny Snooks she lost her speech
To me right fol diddle I dee

A great big sea hove in the harbour
Right fol-lor a tiddle-iddle I doh
A great big sea hove in the harbour
And hove me up to Keough's parlour
To me right fol diddle I dee

Oh, dear mother, I wants a sack
Right fol-lor a tiddle-iddle I doh
Oh, dear mother, I wants a sack
With beads and buttons all down the back
To me right fol diddle I dee

Me foot is broke me frock is tore,
Right fol-lor a tiddle-iddle I doh
Me foot is broke me frock is tore,
But Georgie Snooks I do adore
To me right fol diddle I dee

Oh fish is low and flour is high
Right fol-lor a tiddle-iddle I doh
Oh fish is low and flour is high
So Georgie Snooks he can't have I
To me right fol diddle I dee