"Rant and Roar" is a phrase primarily associated with the traditional Newfoundland folk song titled "The Ryans and the Pittmans." Composed in 1875 by Henry William LeMessurier, the song has become a significant piece of the cultural and musical heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The song is set to the melody of the traditional British naval ballad "Spanish Ladies." The lyrics recount the travels of a sailor visiting various outports along the Newfoundland coast, ultimately expressing his desire to return home to marry. The chorus, from which the phrase is derived, states: "We'll rant and we'll roar like true Newfoundlanders / We'll rant and we'll roar on the some-and-some shore." In this maritime context, the terms "rant" and "roar" signify boisterous singing, merry-making, and spirited, loud celebration.
Historically, the song served to reinforce local identity through its adaptation of a British tune with distinctly Newfoundland geographic references and vernacular. It has been preserved through oral tradition and formal recordings by numerous artists, most notably the Canadian folk-rock band Great Big Sea, whose 1997 cover increased the song's profile in contemporary popular culture.
Beyond the specific song, "Rant and Roar" has been utilized as a title for various cultural productions in Atlantic Canada, including television specials and comedy variety shows, often intended to evoke a sense of regional pride and traditional Newfoundland character.