Though the original title to the folk version is "The Ryans and the Pittmans", I belive Great Big Sea cut out any references to the Ryans and or Pittmans in order to shorten the song and focus on Newfoundland in general.

Also, as a bizarre side note, Alan Doyle, who is the lead singer of Great Big Sea is now producing Russel Crowe's solo album. Apparently Crowe was in St. John's all last week touring around and singing in Irish pubs downtown. No word on whether he threw phones at anyone and/or ate babies.