Canada
O Canada
1880
1980
Robert Stanley Weir
Calixa Lavallee
❤ Love of homeland 🕊 Freedom 🌿 Nature ✝ God / Faith |
Context
Originally composed in French by Calixa Lavallee with lyrics by Adolphe-Basile Routhier for the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day celebrations in Quebec City on June 24, 1880. The English version by Robert Stanley Weir, written in 1908, became the more widely known text. It was only proclaimed the official national anthem on July 1, 1980, exactly 100 years after it was first performed.
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.
Translations are non-official and intended to convey meaning, not replace originals
Interesting facts
- • The French and English lyrics are not translations of each other; they are entirely different poems set to the same melody
- • In 2018 the lyrics were changed from 'in all thy sons command' to 'in all of us command' to make them gender-neutral
- • Before becoming the official anthem in 1980, 'God Save the Queen' served as the royal anthem and 'The Maple Leaf Forever' was also widely used