About the Anthem
The song “O Canada” was originally commissioned by Lieutenant Governor of Quebec Théodore Robitaille for the 1880 Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day ceremony. The music was composed by Calixa Lavallée, after which, words were written by the poet and judge Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier.
The original lyrics were in French and were translated to English in 1906. Multiple English versions ensued, with Robert Stanley Weir's version in 1908 gaining the most popularity, eventually serving as the basis for the official lyrics enacted by Parliament.
Weir's lyrics have been revised three times since 1908. Most recently in 2018 An Act to amend the National Anthem Act altered the gendered language in the anthem.
The French lyrics remain unaltered.
"O Canada" had served as a de facto national anthem since 1939, officially becoming the country's national anthem through Canada's National Anthem Act, coming into effect on July 1 1980 as part of that year's Dominion Day (Canada Day) celebrations. It replaced “God Save the Queen”, which remains the official royal anthem of Canada.
1908 English Anthem
O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love thou dost in us command.
We see thee rising fair, dear land,
The True North, strong and free;
And stand on guard, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
(Refrain)
O Canada! O Canada!
O Canada! We stand on guard for thee,
O Canada! We stand on guard for thee.
O Canada! Where pines and maples grow,
Great prairies spread and lordly rivers flow,
How dear to us thy broad domain,
From East to Western sea!
Thou land of hope for all who toil!
Thou True North, strong and free!
(Refrain)
O Canada! Beneath thy shining skies
May stalwart sons and gentle maidens rise,
To keep thee steadfast through the years
From East to Western sea,
Our own beloved native land,
Our True North, strong and free!
(Refrain)
Ruler Supreme, Who hearest humble prayer,
Hold our dominion within Thy loving care.
Help us to find, O God, in Thee
A lasting, rich reward,
As waiting for the Better Day,
We ever stand on guard.
(Refrain)
Current French Lyrics
Ô Canada! Terre de nos aïeux,
Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!
Car ton bras sait porter l'épée,
Il sait porter la croix!
Ton histoire est une épopée
Des plus brillants exploits.
Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.
Current English Lyrics
O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all of us command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
As a diverse country, Canada’s national anthem has also been translated and adapted into numerous other languages.
O Canada performed with the TSO in English, Spanish, Tagalog, French, Arabic, Cree, Mandarin, German, Tamil, ASL, Punjabi, and Italian.
O Kanata performed in Mi’kmaq
O Canada performed in Arabic
O Canada performed in Inuktitut, Ukranian, Mi’kmaq, French, Punjabi, Mandarin, German, Cree, Spanish, Italian, and English.
O Canada performed in Inuktitut & Sign Language
O Canada performed in Mandarin
Sources & Further Reading
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/anthems-canada.html
Lavallée, Calixa. National Anthem. Canadian Heritage, Canadian Symbols Promotion, 2001.
Knox Church (City Hall Square, Ottawa), Anthem Book Containing the Words of Anthems and Hymns Sung by the Choir, for Congregational Use. s.n.], 2018.
Gilboa, Avi, and Ehud Bodner. “What Are Your Thoughts When the National Anthem Is Playing? An Empirical Exploration.” Psychology of Music, vol. 37, no. 4, SAGE Publications, 2009, pp. 459–84, doi:10.1177/0305735608097249.
Lauenstein, Oliver, et al. “‘Oh Motherland I Pledge to Thee …’: a Study into Nationalism, Gender and the Representation of an Imagined Family Within National Anthems.” Nations and Nationalism, vol. 21, no. 2, 2015, pp. 309–29, doi:10.1111/nana.12123.
Hometown Proud : Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Flag of Canada = Fierté Du Patrimoine : Célébration Du 50e Anniversaire Du Drapeau Du Canada. Hometown Music Council, 2015.