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{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Other uses|O Canada (disambiguation)}}
{{Short description|National anthem of Canada}} {{Short description|National anthem of Canada}}
{{About|the national anthem of Canada|other uses}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox anthem {{Infobox anthem
|title = "O Canada" | title = "O Canada"
|alt_title = {{lang-fr|link=no|Ô Canada|italic=no}} | image = O Canada bilingual sheet music.pdf
|image = | caption = Official bilingual sheet music
| alt_title = {{langx|fr|link=no|Ô Canada|italic=no}}
|caption =
|prefix = National | prefix = National
|country = Canada | country = Canada
|composer = ] | composer = ]
|music_date = 1880 | music_date = 1880
|author = ] <small>(French, 1880)</small>, ] <small>(English, 1908)</small> | author = ] (French, 1880), ] (English, 1908)
|adopted = July 1, 1980 | adopted = July 1, 1980
|until = | until =
<!--|sound = O Canada.ogg | sound = "O Canada"-«Ô Canada», performed by the National Band of the Naval Reserve.oga
| sound_title = Instrumental rendition by the ]'s ]
|sound_title = O Canada-->
}} }}
{{Contains special characters}}
"'''O Canada'''" ({{lang-fr|Ô Canada|italic=no}}) is the ] of ]. The song was originally commissioned by ] ] for the 420 ] ceremony; ] composed the music, after which, words were written by the poet and judge Sir smoke weed every day ]. The original lyrics were in French; an English translation was published in 1906.<ref name="DCHOCanada">{{cite web|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/anthems-canada/history-o-canada.html|publisher=]|title=Full history of 'O Canada'|accessdate=September 25, 2019}}</ref> Multiple English versions ensued, with ]'s version in 1908 gaining the most popularity, Im gonna put my pp in U eventually serving as the basis for the official lyrics enacted by Parliament.<ref name="DCHOCanada"/> Weir's lyrics have been revised three times, most recently when ''An Act to amend the National Anthem Act (gender)'' was enacted in 2018.<ref name=BBCGenderNeutral>{{cite news|last=Marshall|first=Alex|title=The women who fought to make Canada's national anthem gender-male ppneutral|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-42977303|date=February 9, 2018|accessdate=February 9, 2018|work=BBC News}}</ref> The French lyrics remain unaltered. "O Canada" had served as a '']'' national anthem since 1939, officially becoming the country's national anthem in 1980 when Canada's ''National Anthem Act'' received ] and became effective on July 1 as part of that year's ] (today's Canada Day) celebrations.<ref name=DCHOCanada/><ref>{{cite book|last=DeRocco|first=David|title=From sea to sea to sea : a newcomer's guide to Canada|year=2008|publisher=Full Blast Productions|isbn=978-0-9784738-4-6|pages=121–122}}</ref>
"'''O Canada'''" ({{langx|fr|Ô Canada|italic=no}}) is the ] of ]. The song was originally commissioned by ] ] for the 1880 ] ceremony; ] composed the music, after which French-language words were written by the poet and judge Sir ].


The original French lyrics were translated to English in 1906.<ref name="DCHOCanada">{{cite web|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/anthems-canada/history-o-canada.html|publisher=]|title=Full history of 'O Canada'|date=January 5, 2018|access-date=September 25, 2019|archive-date=September 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190912201613/https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/anthems-canada/history-o-canada.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Multiple English versions ensued, with ]'s 1908 version (which was not a translation of the French lyrics) gaining the most popularity; the Weir lyrics eventually served as the basis for the official lyrics enacted by Parliament.<ref name="DCHOCanada"/> Weir's English-language lyrics have been revised three times, most recently when ''An Act to amend the National Anthem Act (gender)'' was enacted in 2018.<ref name=BBCGenderNeutral>{{cite news|last=Marshall|first=Alex|title=The women who fought to make Canada's national anthem gender-neutral|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-42977303|date=February 9, 2018|access-date=February 9, 2018|work=BBC News|archive-date=February 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209021245/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-42977303|url-status=live}}</ref> The French lyrics remain unaltered.
==Melody ==
"O Canada" is a 28-] song originally written in the key of G major for four voices and piano, as a ] in ] to be played "] è ]" ("majestic and resolved"). The original manuscript has been lost.<ref name=CE />


"O Canada" had served as a '']'' national anthem since 1939, officially becoming the country's national anthem in 1980 when Canada's ''National Anthem Act'' received ] and became effective on July 1 as part of that year's ] (today's Canada Day) celebrations.<ref name=DCHOCanada/><ref>{{cite book|last=DeRocco|first=David|title=From sea to sea to sea: a newcomer's guide to Canada|year=2008|publisher=Full Blast Productions|isbn=978-0-9784738-4-6|pages=121–122}}</ref>
<score vorbis="1">

{
==Melody==
\clef treble \key f \major \tempo 4=100 \set Staff.midiInstrument = "piano" {
"O Canada" is a 28-] song originally written in the key of F major for four voices and piano, as a ] in ] to be played "{{lang|it|] e ]}}" ("majestic and resolved"). The original manuscript has been lost.<ref name=CE />

<score sound="1">
{
\clef treble \key f \major \tempo 4=100 \set Staff.midiInstrument = "clarinet" {
\set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t
\override Score.BarNumber #'transparent = ##t \override Score.BarNumber #'transparent = ##t
\time 4/4 \time 4/4
\transpose c c' \transpose c c'
\relative \relative
{ a2 c4. c8 | f,2. g4 | a bes c d | g,2. r4 | a2 b4. b8 | c2. d4 | e e d d | c2. g8. a16 | bes4. a8 g4 a8. bes16 | c4. bes8 a4 bes8. c16 | d4 c bes a | g2. g8. a16 | bes4. a8 g4 a8. bes16 | c4. bes8 a4 a | g c c8 b a b | c2. r4 | a2 c4. c8 | f,2. r4 | bes2 d4. d8 | g,2. r4 | c2 cis4. cis8 | d4 bes a g | f2 g | a2. r4 | c2 f4. f8 | d4 bes a g | c2 e, | f1 \bar "|."} { a2 c4. c8 | f,2. g4 | a bes c d | g,2. r4 | a2 b4. b8 | c2. d4 | e e d d | c2. \bar"" \break
g8. a16 | bes4. a8 g4 a8. bes16 | c4. bes8 a4 bes8. c16 | d4 c bes a | g2. g8. a16 | bes4. a8 g4 a8. bes16 | c4. bes8 a4 \bar"" \break
a | g c c8 b a b | c2. r4 | a2 c4. c8 | f,2. r4 | bes2 d4. d8 | g,2. r4 | \break
c2 cis4. cis8 | d4 bes a g | f2 g | a2. r4 | c2 f4. f8 | d4 bes a g | c2 e, | f1 \bar "|."}
} }
} }
</score> </score>


Musicologist ] has argued that Lavallée constructed the melody for "O Canada" by adapting material by Mozart ("]", measures 1–8), Wagner ("Wach auf, es nahet gen den Tag", measures 9–16), Liszt ("Festklänge", measures 17–20), and Matthias Keller ("The American Hymn", measures 21–28).<ref>{{Cite journal|journal=Musical Quarterly|date=June 28, 2020|accessdate=July 4, 2020|author=Ross W. Duffin|title=Calixa Lavallée and the Construction of a National Anthem|doi=10.1093/musqtl/gdaa004 |url=https://doi.org/10.1093/musqtl/gdaa004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Wheeler |first=Brad |date=3 August 2020 |title="Expat Musicologist Contends O Canada Not an Original Composition |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/article-expat-musicologist-contends-o-canada-not-an-original-composition/ |work=Toronto Globe and Mail |location=Toronto |access-date=9 Aug 2020 |archive-date=August 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826110257/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/article-expat-musicologist-contends-o-canada-not-an-original-composition/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Lyrics ==
The National Anthem Act established set lyrics for "O Canada" in Canada's two official languages, English and French. The lyrics are as follows:<ref name=DCHOCanada/><ref>{{cite web| url=http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1443808632931#a11| author=Department of Canadian Heritage| authorlink=Department of Canadian Heritage| title=Patrimoine canadien – Hymne national du Canada| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada| accessdate=June 26, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=House of Commons debates, official report |last=Canada. Parliament, House of Commons. |year=1964 |publisher=Queen's Printer |volume=11 |isbn= |page=11806 |url=http://parl.canadiana.ca/view/oop.debates_HOC2602_11/458?r=0&s=1 }}</ref>


==Lyrics==
<poem style="float:left; margin-left:1em;">
The National Anthem Act established set lyrics for "O Canada" in Canada's two official languages, English and French. However, the two sets of lyrics are not translations of each other.
'''] lyrics'''


The lyrics are as follows:<ref name=DCHOCanada/><ref>{{cite web| url=http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1443808632931#a11| author=Department of Canadian Heritage| author-link=Department of Canadian Heritage| title=Patrimoine canadien – Hymne national du Canada| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada| access-date=June 26, 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160226163345/http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1443808632931#a11| archive-date=February 26, 2016| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=House of Commons debates, official report |last=Canada. Parliament, House of Commons. |year=1964 |publisher=Queen's Printer |volume=11 |page=11806 |url=http://parl.canadiana.ca/view/oop.debates_HOC2602_11/458?r=0&s=1 |access-date=July 16, 2016 |archive-date=August 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817033538/http://parl.canadiana.ca/view/oop.debates_HOC2602_11/458?r=0&s=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>


<poem style="float:left; margin-left:1em;">
'''English lyrics'''<br />
O Canada! O Canada!
Our home and native land! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all of us <!-- "All of us" is the official lyric, since February 2018. Please do not change back to "all thy sons". --> command. True patriot love in all of us <!-- "All of us" has been the official lyric since February 2018. Please do not change back to "all thy sons". --> command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise, With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free! The True North strong and free!
From far and wide, From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free! God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. 𝄆 O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. 𝄇</poem>
<poem lang="fr" style="margin-left:1em; float:left;">'''French lyrics'''<br />
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.</poem>
<poem lang="fr" style="margin-left:1em; float:left;">'''] lyrics'''


{{lang|fr|Ô Canada! {{lang|fr|Ô Canada!
Terre de nos aïeux, Terre de nos aïeux,
Line 63: Line 72:
Des plus brillants exploits. Des plus brillants exploits.
Et ta valeur, de foi trempée, Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits. 𝄆 Protégera nos foyers et nos droits. 𝄇|italic=no}}</poem>
<poem style="float:left; margin-left:1em;">'''English translation by the parliamentary<br />]'''<br />
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.|italic=no}}</poem>
<poem style="margin-left:1em; float:left;">'''English translation by the parliamentary<br />translation bureau'''

O Canada! O Canada!
Land of our ancestors Land of our ancestors
Line 75: Line 82:
Of brilliant deeds Of brilliant deeds
And your valour steeped in faith And your valour steeped in faith
Will protect our homes and our rights, 𝄆 Will protect our homes and our rights. 𝄇</poem>
<poem style="margin-left:1em; float:left;">'''] transcription'''{{efn|See ], ] and ].}}<br />
Will protect our homes and our rights.</poem>
<poem style="margin-left:1em; float:left;">'''Bilingual version 1'''<ref>https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/ircc/migration/ircc/english/celebrate/pdf/national_anthem_e.pdf</ref>


𝄆 𝄇</poem>
<poem style="margin-left:1em; float:left;">'''Bilingual version 1'''<ref name=OCanada>{{cite web|url=https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/ircc/migration/ircc/english/celebrate/pdf/national_anthem_e.pdf|title=O Canada our national anthem|year=2017|access-date=December 23, 2018|archive-date=October 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181027164325/https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/ircc/migration/ircc/english/celebrate/pdf/national_anthem_e.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><br />
O Canada! O Canada!
Our home and native land! Our home and native land!
Line 88: Line 102:
Des plus brillants exploits.|italic=no}} Des plus brillants exploits.|italic=no}}
God keep our land glorious and free! God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. 𝄆 O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. 𝄇</poem>
<poem style="margin-left:1em; float:left;">'''Bilingual version 2'''<ref name=OCanada-fr>{{cite web |url=https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/ircc/migration/ircc/francais/celebrer/pdf/hymne_national_f.pdf |title=O Canada – Notre hymne national (version bilingue) |lang=fr |access-date=October 6, 2021 |archive-date=January 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126015154/https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/ircc/migration/ircc/francais/celebrer/pdf/hymne_national_f.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><br />
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.</poem>
<poem style="margin-left:1em; float:left;">'''Bilingual version 2'''<ref>https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/ircc/migration/ircc/francais/celebrer/pdf/hymne_national_f.pdf</ref>


{{lang|fr|Ô Canada! {{lang|fr|Ô Canada!
Terre de nos aïeux, Terre de nos aïeux,
Line 101: Line 112:
Des plus brillants exploits.|italic=no}} Des plus brillants exploits.|italic=no}}
God keep our land glorious and free! God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. 𝄆 O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. 𝄇</poem>{{Clear|left}}
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.</poem>{{Clear|left}}


{{listen|type=music
| filename = O Canada English Weir 1928.ogg
| title = English (1937)
| description = Edward Johnson singing the original lyrics penned by Weir

| filename2 = O Canada French lyrics 1918.ogg
| title2 = French (1918)
| description2 = First and Fourth verses sung by the Quatuor Octave Pelletier

| filename3 = O Canada and God Save the King instrumental 1927.ogg
| title3 = Instrumental (1927)
| description3 = "O Canada" and the Royal Anthem, "God Save the King", performed by Percival Price using ] at the ] in Ottawa

| filename4 = O Canada instrumental 1916.ogg
| title4 = Instrumental (1916)
| description4 = An instrumental version of "O Canada" from 1916

| filename5 =&quot;O Canada&quot;, performed by the United States Third Marine Aircraft Wing Band.oga
| title5 = Instrumental (early 2000s)
| description5 = "O Canada" performed by the U.S. Third Marine Aircraft Wing Band in the early 2000s


{{listen
| filename6 = United States Navy Band - O Canada.ogg
| title6 = Instrumental (early 2000s) | type = music
| filename = O Canada English Weir 1928.ogg
| description6 = "O Canada" performed by the ] Band in the early 2000s
| title = 1928 orchestral and vocal recording in English (two verses)
| description = ] singing ] original lyrics
| filename2 = O Canada French lyrics 1918.ogg
| title2 = 1918 orchestral and vocal recording in French (two verses)
| description2 = First and fourth verses sung by the Quatuor Octave Pelletier
| filename3 = O Canada instrumental 1916.ogg
| title3 = 1916 band instrumental recording (three verses)
| description3 = Performed by the Victor Military Band
| filename4 = O Canada and God Save the King instrumental 1927.ogg
| title4 = 1927 bell tower instrumental recording (two verses) (followed by "God Save the King")
| description4 = Performed by Percival Price using ] bell at the ] in ]
| title5 = "O Canada"
| filename5 = Irving Gillette singing "O Canada" (1914).oga
| description5 = Sung by ] in 1914
}} }}
The line "The True North strong and free" is based on ] description of Canada as "that true North, whereof we lately heard / A strain to shame us". In the context of Tennyson's poem ''To the Queen'', the word ''true'' means "loyal" or "faithful".<ref name="colombo">{{cite book|last=Colombo|first=John Robert|url=https://archive.org/details/colombosalltimeg0000unse|title=Colombo's All-Time Great Canadian Quotations|date=February 1995|publisher=Stoddart|isbn=0-7737-5639-6|author-link=John Robert Colombo|url-access=registration}}</ref>


The lyrics and melody of "O Canada" are both in the ],<ref name=DCHOCanada/> a status unaffected by the trademarking of the phrases "with glowing hearts" and "{{lang|fr|des plus brillants exploits}}" for the ] in Vancouver.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/olympic-mottoes-borrow-lines-from-o-canada-1.697013| title=Olympic mottoes borrow lines from O Canada| date=September 25, 2008| publisher=]| access-date=September 25, 2008| archive-date=January 6, 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106174018/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/olympic-mottoes-borrow-lines-from-o-canada-1.697013| url-status=live}}</ref> Two provinces have adopted Latin translations of phrases from the English lyrics as their mottos: ]—{{lang|la|Gloriosus et Liber}} (Glorious and Free)<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 27, 1993|title=The Coat of Arms, Emblems and the Manitoba Tartan Amendment Act|at=Schedule A.1 |location=Winnipeg|publisher=Manitoba Government|url=http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/1993/c04393e.php|access-date=September 25, 2019|archive-date=September 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190914042842/http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/1993/c04393e.php|url-status=live}}</ref>—and ]—{{lang|la|Fortis et Liber}} (Strong and Free).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://culture.alberta.ca/about/emblems/motto.aspx |title=Alberta Culture and Community Spirit – Provincial Motto, Colour and Logos |publisher=Culture.alberta.ca |date=June 1, 1968 |access-date=April 15, 2011 |archive-date=July 25, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725184008/http://culture.alberta.ca/about/emblems/motto.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> Similarly, the ]'s motto is {{lang|la|Vigilamus pro te}} (we stand on guard for thee).
It has been noted that the opening theme of "O Canada" bears a strong resemblance to the "March of the Priests" from the opera '']'', composed in 1791 by ].<ref name=colombo>{{cite book| last=Colombo| first=John Robert| authorlink=John Robert Colombo| title=Colombo's All-Time Great Canadian Quotations| publisher=Stoddart| date=February 1995| isbn=0-7737-5639-6| url-access=registration| url=https://archive.org/details/colombosalltimeg0000unse}}</ref> The line "The True North strong and free" is based on ] description of Canada as "that true North, whereof we lately heard / A strain to shame us". In the context of Tennyson's poem ''To the Queen'', the word ''true'' means "loyal" or "faithful".<ref name=colombo/>


===Translations===
The lyrics and melody of "O Canada" are both in the ],<ref name=DCHOCanada/> a status unaffected by the trademarking of the phrases "with glowing hearts" and "{{lang|fr|des plus brillants exploits}}" for the ] in Vancouver.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/09/25/bc-vancouver-olympics-trademark-o-canada.html| title=Olympic mottoes borrow lines from O Canada| date=September 25, 2008| publisher=]| accessdate=September 25, 2008}}</ref> Two provinces have adopted ] translations of phrases from the English lyrics as their mottos: ]—{{lang|la|Gloriosus et Liber}} (Glorious and Free)<ref>{{Cite web|publication-date=July 27, 1993|title=The Coat of Arms, Emblems and the Manitoba Tartan Amendment Act|at=Schedule A.1 |publication-place=Winnipeg|publisher=Manitoba Government|url=http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/1993/c04393e.php|accessdate=September 25, 2019}}</ref>—and ]—{{lang|la|Fortis et Liber}} (Strong and Free).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://culture.alberta.ca/about/emblems/motto.aspx |title=Alberta Culture and Community Spirit – Provincial Motto, Colour and Logos |publisher=Culture.alberta.ca |date=June 1, 1968 |accessdate=April 15, 2011}}</ref> Similarly, the ]'s motto is {{lang|la|Vigilamus pro te}} (we stand on guard for thee).
The lyrics have been translated into several ], including ], ],<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/cur/socstud/foundation_gr3/blms/3-1-2b.pdf|title=Canadian National Anthem - Translations|publisher=Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning|access-date=2023-04-05|archive-date=November 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110033849/https://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/cur/socstud/foundation_gr3/blms/3-1-2b.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> ]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://calgary.citynews.ca/2022/07/26/cree-o-canada-anthem-pope-canada/ | title=CityNews | date=July 26, 2022 | access-date=November 10, 2022 | archive-date=November 10, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110033846/https://calgary.citynews.ca/2022/07/26/cree-o-canada-anthem-pope-canada/ | url-status=live }}</ref> and ].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://firstnationhelp.com/ali/okanata.php | title=Aboriginal Language Initiative - O' Kanata | access-date=November 10, 2022 | archive-date=November 10, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110033846/https://firstnationhelp.com/ali/okanata.php | url-status=live }}</ref> There is also a trilingual version, in English, French and Inuktitut.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh8kTzWByIs | title=O Canada in Inuktitut, French, and English | website=] | date=November 10, 2021 | access-date=November 10, 2022 | archive-date=November 10, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110033845/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xh8kTzWByIs | url-status=live }}</ref>


==History== ==History==
The French lyrics of "O Canada" were written by Sir ], to music composed by ], as a ] patriotic song for the ] and first performed on June 24, 1880, at a ] banquet in ]. At that time, the "Chant National", also by Routhier, was popular amongst Francophones as an anthem,<ref name=QHE>{{Cite book|last=Bélanger|first=Claude|title=The Quebec History Encyclopedia|chapter=National Anthem of Canada|place=Montreal|publisher=Marianopolis College|chapter-url=http://faculty.marianopolis.edu/c.belanger/quebechistory/encyclopedia/Anthem.htm|access-date=September 25, 2019|archive-date=September 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130919114337/http://faculty.marianopolis.edu/c.belanger/quebechistory/encyclopedia/Anthem.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> while "]" and "]" had, since 1867, been competing as unofficial national anthems in ]. "O Canada" joined that fray when a group of school children sang it for the 1901 tour of Canada by ] (later ] and ]).<ref name=DCHOCanada/> This was the first known performance of the song outside Quebec.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kuitenbrouwer|first1=Peter|title=The Strange History of 'O Canada'|url=https://thewalrus.ca/the-strange-history-of-o-canada/|access-date=July 7, 2017|work=]|date=June 27, 2017|archive-date=August 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817071426/https://thewalrus.ca/the-strange-history-of-o-canada/|url-status=live}}</ref>
] {{circa|1890}}]]


]
The French lyrics of "O Canada" were written by Sir ], to music composed by ], as a ] patriotic song for the ] and first performed on June 24, 1880, at a ] banquet in ]. At that time, the "Chant National", also by Routhier, was popular amongst Francophones as an anthem,<ref name=QHE>{{Cite book|last=Bélanger|first=Claude|title=The Quebec History Encyclopedia|chapter=National Anthem of Canada|place=Montreal|publisher=Marianopolis College|url=http://faculty.marianopolis.edu/c.belanger/quebechistory/encyclopedia/Anthem.htm|accessdate=September 25, 2019}}</ref> while "]" and "]" had, since 1867, been competing as unofficial national anthems in ]. "O Canada" joined that fray when a group of school children sang it for the 1901 tour of Canada by ] (later ] and ]).<ref name=DCHOCanada/> This was the first known performance of the song outside Quebec.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kuitenbrouwer|first1=Peter|title=The Strange History of 'O Canada'|url=https://thewalrus.ca/the-strange-history-of-o-canada/|accessdate=July 7, 2017|work=]|date=June 27, 2017}}</ref>
Five years later, the Whaley and Royce company in ] published the music with the French text and a first translation into English by Thomas Bedford Richardson and, in 1908, '']'' magazine held a competition to write new English lyrics for "O Canada". The competition was won by Mercy E. Powell McCulloch, but her version never gained wide acceptance.<ref name=QHE/> In fact, many made English translations of Routhier's words; however, the most popular version was created in 1908 by Robert Stanley Weir, a lawyer and Recorder of the City of ]. Weir's lyrics from 1908 contained no religious references and used the phrase "thou dost in us command" before they were changed by Weir in 1913 to read "in all thy sons command".<ref name=DCHOCanada/><ref>{{Cite book| url=https://archive.org/details/commonschoolbook00unse_0 | title=The Common School Book of Vocal Music: A One-Book Course of Song and Study for Use in Schools of Mixed Grades| publisher=W. J. Gage & Co| year=1913| location=Toronto}}</ref><ref name=CE /> In 1926, a fourth verse of a religious nature was added.<ref name=Hansard2002>{{Cite journal| journal=]| url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/Sen/Chamber/371/Debates/091db_2002-02-21-e.htm#29| title=Bill to Amend—Second Reading—Debate Adjourned| access-date=October 10, 2014| volume=1st Session, 37th Parliament| date=February 21, 2002| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada| location=Ottawa| archive-date=October 2, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141002060537/http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/Sen/Chamber/371/Debates/091db_2002-02-21-e.htm#29| url-status=live}}</ref> A slightly modified version was officially published for the Diamond Jubilee of Confederation in 1927, and gradually it became the most widely accepted and performed version of this song.<ref name=DCHOCanada/>


The tune was thought to have become the '']'' national anthem after King ] remained at attention during its playing at the dedication of the ] in ], Ontario, on May 21, 1939;<ref>{{Cite magazine| last=Bethune| first=Brian| title=A gift fit for a king|magazine=Maclean's| publisher=Rogers Communications| location=Toronto| date=July 7, 2011| url=http://www.macleans.ca/2011/07/07/a-gift-fit-for-a-king/| issn=0024-9262| access-date=July 9, 2011}}</ref> though George was actually following a precedent set by his brother, ], the previous ], when he dedicated the ] in France in 1936.<ref name=Galbraith10>{{cite journal| last=Galbraith| first=William| title=Fiftieth Anniversary of the 1939 Royal Visit|journal=]|volume=12| issue=3| page=10| publisher=Commonwealth Parliamentary Association| location=Ottawa| year=1989| url=http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Sites/LOP/Infoparl/english/issue.asp?param=130&art=820| archive-url=https://archive.today/20121205052132/http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Sites/LOP/Infoparl/english/issue.asp?param=130&art=820| url-status=dead| archive-date=December 5, 2012| access-date=March 10, 2010}}</ref> By-laws and practices governing the use of song during public events in municipalities varied; in Toronto, "God Save the King" or "God Save the Queen" was employed, while in Montreal it was "O Canada".
] in 1878]]


Musicologist ] has made an extended argument that Lavallée constructed the melody for "O Canada" by adapting material by Mozart ("March of the Priests", measures 1–8), Liszt ("Festklänge", measures 17–20), Wagner ("Wach auf, es nahet gen den Tag", measures 9–16), and Matthias Keller ("The American Hymn", measures 21–28).<ref>{{Cite journal|journal=]|date=June 28, 2020|author=Ross W. Duffin|title=Calixa Lavallée and the Construction of a National Anthem|doi=10.1093/musqtl/gdaa004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Wheeler |first=Brad |date=August 3, 2020 |title=Expat Musicologist Contends O Canada Not an Original Composition |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/article-expat-musicologist-contends-o-canada-not-an-original-composition/ |work=Globe and Mail |location=Toronto |access-date=August 9, 2020 |archive-date=August 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826110257/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/article-expat-musicologist-contends-o-canada-not-an-original-composition/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Five years later, the Whaley and Royce company in ] published the music with the French text and a first translation into English by Thomas Bedford Richardson and, in 1908, '']'' magazine held a competition to write new English lyrics for "O Canada". The competition was won by Mercy E. Powell McCulloch, but her version never gained wide acceptance.<ref name=QHE/> In fact, many made English translations of Routhier's words; however, the most popular version was created in 1908 by Robert Stanley Weir, a lawyer and Recorder of the City of ]. Weir's lyrics from 1908 contained no religious references and used the phrase "thou dost in us command" before they were changed by Weir in 1913 to read "in all thy sons command".<ref name=DCHOCanada/><ref>{{Cite book| url=https://archive.org/details/commonschoolbook00unse_0 | title=The Common School Book of Vocal Music: A One-Book Course of Song and Study for Use in Schools of Mixed Grades| publisher=W. J. Gage & Co| year=1913| location=Toronto}}</ref><ref name=CE /> In 1926, a fourth verse of a religious nature was added.<ref name=Hansard2002>{{Cite journal| work=Hansard| url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/Sen/Chamber/371/Debates/091db_2002-02-21-e.htm#29| title=Bill to Amend—Second Reading—Debate Adjourned | accessdate=October 10, 2014| volume=1st Session, 37th Parliament| date=February 21, 2002| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada| location=Ottawa}}</ref> A slightly modified version was officially published for the Diamond Jubilee of Confederation in 1927, and gradually it became the most widely accepted and performed version of this song.<ref name=DCHOCanada/>

The tune was thought to have become the '']'' national anthem after King ] remained at attention during its playing at the dedication of the ] in ], Ontario, on May 21, 1939;<ref>{{Cite journal| last=Bethune| first=Brian| title=A gift fit for a king| journal=Maclean's| publisher=Rogers Communications| location=Toronto| date=July 7, 2011| url=http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/07/07/a-gift-fit-for-a-king/| issn=0024-9262| accessdate=July 9, 2011}}</ref> though George was actually following a precedent set by his brother, ], the previous ], when he dedicated the ] in France in 1936.<ref name=Galbraith10>{{cite journal| last=Galbraith| first=William| title=Fiftieth Anniversary of the 1939 Royal Visit| journal=Canadian Parliamentary Review| volume=12| issue=3| page=10| publisher=Commonwealth Parliamentary Association| location=Ottawa| year=1989| url=http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Sites/LOP/Infoparl/english/issue.asp?param=130&art=820| archive-url=https://archive.is/20121205052132/http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Sites/LOP/Infoparl/english/issue.asp?param=130&art=820| url-status=dead| archive-date=December 5, 2012| accessdate=March 10, 2010}}</ref> By-laws and practices governing the use of song during public events in municipalities varied; in Toronto, "God Save the Queen" was employed, while in Montreal it was "O Canada".


===Adoption=== ===Adoption===
Prime Minister ] in 1964 said one song would have to be chosen as the country's national anthem and the government resolved to form a joint committee to review the status of the two musical works. The next year, Pearson put to the House of Commons a motion that "the government be authorized to take such steps as may be necessary to provide that 'O Canada' shall be the National Anthem of Canada while 'God Save the Queen' shall be the Royal Anthem of Canada", of which parliament approved. In 1967, the Prime Minister advised ] ] to appoint the Special Joint Committee of the ] and ] on the National and Royal Anthems; the group first met in February and,<ref name=CE>{{Cite book|last=Potvin|first=Gilles|last2=Kallmann|first2=Helmut|title=]|chapter=O Canada|place=Toronto|publisher=Historica Foundation of Canada|chapter-url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/en/article/o-canada/|accessdate=November 10, 2015}}</ref> within two months, on April 12, 1967, presented its conclusion that "O Canada" should be designated as the national anthem and "]" as the ] of Canada,<ref name=DCHOCanada/> one verse from each, in ], to be adopted by parliament. The group was then charged with establishing official lyrics for each song. For "O Canada", the Robert Stanley Weir version of 1908 was recommended for the English words, with a few minor changes: two of the "stand on guard" phrases were replaced with "from far and wide" and "God keep our land".<ref>{{Cite book|last=Kallmann|first=Helmut|title=]|chapter=National and Royal Anthems|place=Toronto|publisher=Historica Foundation of Canada|chapter-url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/national-and-royal-anthems-emc/|accessdate=June 25, 2010}}</ref><ref name=DCHOCanada /> Prime Minister ] in 1964 said one song would have to be chosen as the country's national anthem and the government resolved to form a joint committee to review the status of the two musical works. The next year, Pearson put to the House of Commons a motion that "the government be authorized to take such steps as may be necessary to provide that 'O Canada' shall be the National Anthem of Canada while 'God Save the Queen' shall be the Royal Anthem of Canada", of which parliament approved. In 1967, the Prime Minister advised ] ] to appoint the Special Joint Committee of the ] and ] on the National and Royal Anthems; the group first met in February and,<ref name=CE>{{Cite book|last1=Potvin|first1=Gilles|last2=Kallmann|first2=Helmut|title=The Canadian Encyclopedia|chapter=O Canada|place=Toronto|publisher=Historica Foundation of Canada|chapter-url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/o-canada|access-date=November 10, 2015|title-link=The Canadian Encyclopedia|archive-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203021353/http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/en/article/o-canada/|url-status=live}}</ref> within two months, on April 12, 1967, presented its conclusion that "O Canada" should be designated as the national anthem and "]" as the ] of Canada,<ref name=DCHOCanada/> one verse from each, in ], to be adopted by parliament. The group was then charged with establishing official lyrics for each song. For "O Canada", the Robert Stanley Weir version of 1908 was recommended for the English words, with a few minor changes: two of the "stand on guard" phrases were replaced with "from far and wide" and "God keep our land".<ref>{{Cite book|last=Kallmann|first=Helmut|title=The Canadian Encyclopedia|chapter=National and Royal Anthems|place=Toronto|publisher=Historica Foundation of Canada|chapter-url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/national-and-royal-anthems-emc/|access-date=June 25, 2010|title-link=The Canadian Encyclopedia|archive-date=January 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130235241/http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/national-and-royal-anthems-emc/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=DCHOCanada />


In 1970, the ] purchased the right to the lyrics and music of "O Canada" from Gordon V. Thompson Music for $1.<ref>{{cite book|author=Helmut Kallmann, Marlene Wehrle|chapter-url=http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/emc/gordon-v-thompson-music|chapter=Gordon V. Thompson Music|title=]|accessdate=August 2, 2013}}</ref> The song finally became the official national anthem in 1980 with the passage of the ''National Anthem Act.''<ref name=Galbraith10/><ref name=CE/> The Act replaced two of the repetitions of the phrase "We stand on guard" in the English lyrics, as had been proposed by the Senate Special Joint Committee. This change was controversial with traditionalists and, for several years afterwards, it was not uncommon to hear people still singing the old lyrics at public events. In contrast, the French lyrics are unchanged from the original version.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/Canadiana/pf-anthem.html| title=National anthem: O Canada| date=May 26, 2004| publisher=Canoe| accessdate=July 6, 2010 |archiveurl=https://archive.is/20100311145403/http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/Canadiana/pf-anthem.html|archivedate=March 11, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1970, the ] purchased the right to the lyrics and music of "O Canada" from Gordon V. Thompson Music for $1.<ref>{{cite book|author=Helmut Kallmann, Marlene Wehrle|chapter-url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/articles/emc/gordon-v-thompson-music|chapter=Gordon V. Thompson Music|title=The Canadian Encyclopedia|access-date=August 2, 2013|title-link=The Canadian Encyclopedia|archive-date=November 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106193020/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/articles/emc/gordon-v-thompson-music|url-status=live}}</ref> The song finally became the official national anthem in 1980 with the passage of the ''National Anthem Act.''<ref name=Galbraith10/><ref name=CE/> The Act replaced two of the repetitions of the phrase "We stand on guard" in the English lyrics, as had been proposed by the Senate Special Joint Committee. This change was controversial with traditionalists and, for several years afterwards, it was not uncommon to hear people still singing the old lyrics at public events. In contrast, the French lyrics are unchanged from the original version.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/Canadiana/pf-anthem.html| title=National anthem: O Canada| date=May 26, 2004| publisher=Canoe| access-date=July 6, 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20100311145403/http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/Canadiana/pf-anthem.html|archive-date=March 11, 2010|url-status=usurped}}</ref>


===Inclusive language debates=== ===Inclusive language debates===
In June 1990, ] voted 12 to 7 in favour of recommending to the ] that the phrase "our home and native land" be changed to "our home and cherished land" and that "in all thy sons command" be partly reverted to "in all of us command". Councillor ] said that the words "native land" were not appropriate for the many Canadians who were not native-born and that the word "sons" implied "that women can't feel true patriotism or love for Canada".<ref>{{Cite news| last=Byers| first=Jim | title='O Canada' offensive, Metro says| newspaper=Toronto Star| page=A.2| date=June 6, 1990}}</ref> ] ] similarly criticized the English lyrics of the anthem as being ] and she introduced a bill in 2002 proposing to change the phrase "in all thy sons command" to "in all of us command".<ref name=Hansard2002/> In the late 2000s, the anthem's religious references (to God in English and to the ] in French) were criticized by ]s.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.americanhumanist.org/hnn/archives/?id=242&article=7| last=Thomas| first=Doug| title=Is Canada a Secular Nation? Part 3: Post-Charter Canada| publisher=Institute for Humanist Studies| date=May 17, 2006| accessdate=March 27, 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620010135/http://americanhumanist.org/hnn/archives/?id=242&article=7| archive-date=June 20, 2010| url-status=dead| df=mdy-all}}</ref> In June 1990, ] voted 12 to 7 in favour of recommending to the ] that the phrase "our home and native land" be changed to "our home and cherished land" and that "in all thy sons command" be partly reverted to "in all of us command". Councillor ] said that the words "native land" were not appropriate for the many Canadians who were not native-born and that the word "sons" implied "that women can't feel true patriotism or love for Canada".<ref>{{Cite news| last=Byers| first=Jim | title='O Canada' offensive, Metro says| newspaper=Toronto Star| page=A.2| date=June 6, 1990}}</ref> ] ] similarly criticized the English lyrics of the anthem as being ] and she introduced a bill in 2002 proposing to change the phrase "in all thy sons command" to "in all of us command".<ref name=Hansard2002/> In the late 2000s, the anthem's religious references (to God in English and to the ] in French) were criticized by ]s.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.americanhumanist.org/hnn/archives/?id=242&article=7| last=Thomas| first=Doug| title=Is Canada a Secular Nation? Part 3: Post-Charter Canada| publisher=Institute for Humanist Studies| date=May 17, 2006| access-date=March 27, 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620010135/http://americanhumanist.org/hnn/archives/?id=242&article=7| archive-date=June 20, 2010| url-status=dead| df=mdy-all}}</ref>


In the ] delivered by ] ] on March 3, 2010, a plan to have parliament review the "original ] wording of the national anthem" was announced.<ref>{{Cite news| title=O Canada lyrics to be reviewed| publisher=MSN| date=March 3, 2010| url=http://news.ca.msn.com/top-stories/cbc-article.aspx?cp-documentid=23570847| accessdate=July 6, 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306130321/http://news.ca.msn.com/top-stories/cbc-article.aspx?cp-documentid=23570847| archive-date=March 6, 2010| url-status=dead}}</ref> However, three-quarters of Canadians polled after the speech objected to the proposal and,<ref>{{Cite journal| title=English-Speaking Canadians Reject Changing Verse from "O Canada"| publisher=Angus Reid Public Opinion| date=March 5, 2010| page=1}}{{Nonspecific|date=September 2019}}</ref> two days later, the ] announced that the ] had decided not to restore the original lyrics.<ref>{{Cite news| title=National anthem won't change: PMO| publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation| date=March 5, 2010| url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/national-anthem-won-t-change-pmo-1.897850| accessdate=April 11, 2016}}</ref> In the ] delivered by ] ] on March 3, 2010, a plan to have parliament review the "original ] wording of the national anthem" was announced.<ref>{{Cite news| title=O Canada lyrics to be reviewed| publisher=MSN| date=March 3, 2010| url=http://news.ca.msn.com/top-stories/cbc-article.aspx?cp-documentid=23570847| access-date=July 6, 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306130321/http://news.ca.msn.com/top-stories/cbc-article.aspx?cp-documentid=23570847| archive-date=March 6, 2010| url-status=dead}}</ref> However, three-quarters of Canadians polled after the speech objected to the proposal and,<ref>{{Citation|title=English-Speaking Canadians Reject Changing Verse from "O Canada"|publisher=]|date=March 5, 2010| page=1}}{{Nonspecific|date=September 2019}}</ref> two days later, the ] announced that the ] had decided not to restore the original lyrics.<ref>{{Cite news| title=National anthem won't change: PMO| publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation| date=March 5, 2010| url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/national-anthem-won-t-change-pmo-1.897850| access-date=April 11, 2016| archive-date=April 20, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420194621/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/national-anthem-won-t-change-pmo-1.897850| url-status=live}}</ref>


In another attempt to make the anthem gender-neutral, Liberal MP ] introduced a ] in September 2014. His Bill C-624, ''An Act to amend the National Anthem Act (gender)'', was defeated at second reading in April 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/LEGISInfo/BillDetails.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&billId=6691453|title=Private Member's Bill C-624 (41–2)|website=LEGISinfo|publisher=Parliament of Canada|access-date=March 3, 2018}}</ref> Following the ], Bélanger reintroduced the bill in the new parliament as Bill C-210 in January 2016.<ref name="C-210">{{Cite web|url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/LEGISInfo/BillDetails.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&billId=8068817|title=Private Member's Bill C-210 (42–1)|website=LEGISinfo|publisher=Parliament of Canada|access-date=June 6, 2016}}</ref> In June 2016, the bill passed its third reading with a vote of 225 to 74 in the ].<ref>{{Cite news| title=Dying MP's gender-neutral O Canada bill passes final Commons vote| work=CBC News| date=June 15, 2016| url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/belanger-o-canada-gender-lyrics-bill-1.3636348|agency=The Canadian Press| accessdate=June 15, 2016}}</ref> The bill passed its third reading in the ] with a ] on January 31, 2018, and received ] on February 7, 2018.<ref name="passed in senate">{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/anthem-bill-passes-senate-1.4513317|first=John Paul|last=Tasker|title='In all of us command': Senate passes bill approving gender neutral anthem wording|work=CBC News|date=January 31, 2018|accessdate=January 31, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/o-canada-gender-neutral-melanie-joly-1.4524764|title=O Canada now officially gender neutral after bill receives royal assent|work=CBC News|last=Tasker|first=John Paul|date=February 7, 2018|accessdate=February 7, 2018}}</ref> In another attempt to make the anthem gender-neutral, Liberal MP ] introduced a ] in September 2014. His Bill C-624, ''An Act to amend the National Anthem Act (gender)'', was defeated at second reading in April 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/LEGISInfo/BillDetails.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&billId=6691453|title=Private Member's Bill C-624 (41–2)|website=LEGISinfo|publisher=Parliament of Canada|access-date=March 3, 2018|archive-date=February 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160226084743/http://www.parl.gc.ca/LegisInfo/BillDetails.aspx?Language=E&billId=6691453&Mode=1|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the ], Bélanger reintroduced the bill in the new parliament as Bill C-210 in January 2016.<ref name="C-210">{{Cite web|url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/LEGISInfo/BillDetails.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&billId=8068817|title=Private Member's Bill C-210 (42–1)|website=LEGISinfo|publisher=Parliament of Canada|access-date=June 6, 2016|archive-date=May 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170501213024/http://www.parl.gc.ca/LegisInfo/BillDetails.aspx?billId=8068817&Language=E&Mode=1|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2016, the bill passed its third reading with a vote of 225 to 74 in the ].<ref>{{Cite news| title=Dying MP's gender-neutral O Canada bill passes final Commons vote| work=CBC News| date=June 15, 2016| url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/belanger-o-canada-gender-lyrics-bill-1.3636348| agency=The Canadian Press| access-date=June 15, 2016| archive-date=December 30, 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230043627/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/belanger-o-canada-gender-lyrics-bill-1.3636348| url-status=live}}</ref> The bill passed its third reading in the ] with a ] on January 31, 2018, and received ] on February 7, 2018.<ref name="passed in senate">{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/anthem-bill-passes-senate-1.4513317|first=John Paul|last=Tasker|title='In all of us command': Senate passes bill approving gender neutral anthem wording|work=CBC News|date=January 31, 2018|access-date=January 31, 2018|archive-date=May 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528092926/http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/anthem-bill-passes-senate-1.4513317|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/o-canada-gender-neutral-melanie-joly-1.4524764|title=O Canada now officially gender neutral after bill receives royal assent|work=CBC News|last=Tasker|first=John Paul|date=February 7, 2018|access-date=February 7, 2018|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109034330/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/o-canada-gender-neutral-melanie-joly-1.4524764|url-status=live}}</ref>


===Second and third stanzas: historical refrain=== ===Second, third and fourth stanzas: historical refrain===
] ]
Below are the second, third and fourth stanzas.<ref name=DCHOCanada /> These are rarely sung.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.lieutenantgovernor.ab.ca/document/canada(long).pdf| last=Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta| author-link=Lieutenant Governor of Alberta| title=O Canada| publisher=Queen's Printer for Alberta| access-date=April 17, 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080413191251/http://www.lieutenantgovernor.ab.ca/document/canada(long).pdf| archive-date=April 13, 2008}}</ref>


<poem>'''II'''
Below are some slightly different versions of the second and third stanzas and the chorus, plus an additional fourth stanza.<ref name=DCHOCanada /> These are rarely sung.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.lieutenantgovernor.ab.ca/document/canada(long).pdf| last=Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta| authorlink=Lieutenant Governor of Alberta| title=O Canada| publisher=Queen's Printer for Alberta| accessdate=April 17, 2008| archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080413191251/http://www.lieutenantgovernor.ab.ca/document/canada(long).pdf| archivedate=April 13, 2008}}</ref>
O Canada! Where pines and maples grow.

<poem>O Canada! Where pines and maples grow.
Great prairies spread and lordly rivers flow. Great prairies spread and lordly rivers flow.
How dear to us thy broad domain, How dear to us thy broad domain,
Line 170: Line 173:
Thou True North, strong and free! Thou True North, strong and free!


''Chorus'' {{small|'''Chorus'''}}
{{in5}}God keep our land glorious and free! God keep our land glorious and free!
{{in5}}O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. 𝄆 O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. 𝄇
{{in5}}O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.


'''III'''
O Canada! Beneath thy shining skies O Canada! Beneath thy shining skies
May stalwart sons, and gentle maidens rise, May stalwart sons, and gentle maidens rise,
Line 182: Line 185:
Our True North, strong and free! Our True North, strong and free!


''Chorus'' {{small|'''''Chorus'''''}}


'''IV'''
Ruler supreme, who hearest humble prayer, Ruler supreme, who hearest humble prayer,
Hold our Dominion within thy loving care; Hold our Dominion within thy loving care;
Line 191: Line 195:
We ever stand on guard. We ever stand on guard.


''Chorus''</poem> {{small|'''''Chorus'''''}}</poem>


===Original French version=== ===Original French version===
The first verse is the same. The other verses follow. The first verse is the same. The other verses follow.


<poem lang="fr" style="float:left;">Sous l'œil de Dieu, près du fleuve géant, <poem lang="fr" style="float:left;">'''II'''
Sous l'œil de Dieu, près du fleuve géant,
Le Canadien grandit en espérant. Le Canadien grandit en espérant.
Il est né d'une race fière, Il est né d'une race fière,
Line 203: Line 208:
Dans ce monde nouveau. Dans ce monde nouveau.
Toujours guidé par sa lumière, Toujours guidé par sa lumière,
Il gardera l'honneur de son drapeau, 𝄆 Il gardera l'honneur de son drapeau. 𝄇
Il gardera l'honneur de son drapeau.


'''III'''
De son patron, précurseur du vrai Dieu, De son patron, précurseur du vrai Dieu,
Il porte au front l'auréole de feu. Il porte au front l'auréole de feu.
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Sa fière liberté; Sa fière liberté;
Et par l'effort de son génie, Et par l'effort de son génie,
Sur notre sol asseoir la vérité, 𝄆 Sur notre sol asseoir la vérité. 𝄇
Sur notre sol asseoir la vérité.


'''IV'''
Amour sacré du trône et de l'autel, Amour sacré du trône et de l'autel,
Remplis nos cœurs de ton souffle immortel! Remplis nos cœurs de ton souffle immortel!
Parmi les races étrangères, Parmi les races étrangères,
Notre guide est la loi : Notre guide est la loi&thinsp;:
Sachons être un peuple de frères, Sachons être un peuple de frères,
Sous le joug de la foi. Sous le joug de la foi.
Et répétons, comme nos pères, Et répétons, comme nos pères,
Le cri vainqueur : "Pour le Christ et le roi!" 𝄆 Le cri vainqueur&thinsp;: «&thinsp;Pour le Christ et le roi!&thinsp;» 𝄇</poem>
<poem style="margin-left:2em; float:left;">'''II'''
Le cri vainqueur : "Pour le Christ et le roi!"</poem>
<poem style="margin-left:2em; float:left;">Under the eye of God, near the giant river, Under the eye of God, near the giant river,
The Canadian grows hoping. The Canadian grows hoping.
He was born of a proud race, He was born of a proud race,
Line 232: Line 237:
In this new world. In this new world.
Always guided by its light, Always guided by its light,
He will keep the honour of his flag, 𝄆 He will keep the honour of his flag. 𝄇
He will keep the honour of his flag.


'''III'''
From his patron, the precursor of the true God, From his patron, the precursor of the true God,
He wears the halo of fire on his brow. He wears the halo of fire on his brow.
Line 242: Line 247:
His proud freedom; His proud freedom;
And by the effort of his genius, And by the effort of his genius,
Set on our ground the truth, 𝄆 Set on our ground the truth. 𝄇
Set on our ground the truth.


'''IV'''
Sacred love of the throne and the altar, Sacred love of the throne and the altar,
Fill our hearts with your immortal breath! Fill our hearts with your immortal breath!
Line 252: Line 257:
Under the yoke of faith. Under the yoke of faith.
And repeat, like our fathers, And repeat, like our fathers,
The battle cry: "For Christ and King!" 𝄆 The battle cry: "For Christ and King!" 𝄇</poem>{{Clear|left}}
The battle cry: "For Christ and King!"</poem>{{Clear|left}}


==Performances== ==Performances==
] singing O Canada prior to a ] game.]]
]]]
"O Canada" is routinely played before sporting events involving Canadian teams. Singers at such public events often mix the English and French lyrics to represent Canada's linguistic duality.<ref>{{cite news|accessdate=May 4, 2008|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/26/sports/olympics/AP-OLY-Closing-Ceremony.html?pagewanted=print|title=Turin Bids Arrivederci to Winter Olympics|work=The New York Times|date=February 26, 2006|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Other linguistic variations have also been performed: During the opening ceremonies of the ] in Calgary, "O Canada" was sung in the southern ] by Yukon native Daniel Tlen.<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=March 31, 2010|url=http://www.yfn2010.org/cultural-contingent/performing-artists/daniel-tlen/|title=Daniel Tlen|publisher=Yukon First Nations|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305114139/http://www.yfn2010.org/cultural-contingent/performing-artists/daniel-tlen/|archive-date=March 5, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|id=hFpoHYzM4iM|title=O Canada (Canada National Anthem) // Calgary 1988 Version}}</ref> At a ] (NHL) game in Calgary, in February 2007, ] singer ] became the first person ever to perform "O Canada" in the ] at such an event.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2007/02/01/ocanada-cree.html| title=Edmonton girl to sing anthem in NHL first at Saddledome|date=February 1, 2007| publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation| accessdate=April 17, 2008}}</ref> "O Canada" is routinely played before sporting events involving Canadian teams. Singers at such public events often mix the English and French lyrics to represent ].<ref>{{cite news|access-date=May 4, 2008|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/26/sports/olympics/AP-OLY-Closing-Ceremony.html?pagewanted=print|title=Turin Bids Arrivederci to Winter Olympics|work=The New York Times|date=February 26, 2006|agency=Associated Press|archive-date=December 10, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210135851/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/26/sports/olympics/AP-OLY-Closing-Ceremony.html?pagewanted=print|url-status=live}}</ref> Other linguistic variations have also been performed: During the opening ceremonies of the ] in Calgary, "O Canada" was sung in the southern ] by Yukon native Daniel Tlen.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=March 31, 2010|url=http://www.yfn2010.org/cultural-contingent/performing-artists/daniel-tlen/|title=Daniel Tlen|publisher=Yukon First Nations|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305114139/http://www.yfn2010.org/cultural-contingent/performing-artists/daniel-tlen/|archive-date=March 5, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|id=hFpoHYzM4iM|title=O Canada (Canada National Anthem) // Calgary 1988 Version}}</ref> At a ] (NHL) game in Calgary, in February 2007, ] singer ] became the first person to perform "O Canada" in the ] at such an event.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-girl-to-sing-anthem-in-nhl-first-at-saddledome-1.651358| title=Edmonton girl to sing anthem in NHL first at Saddledome| date=February 1, 2007| publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation| access-date=April 17, 2008| archive-date=August 8, 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808185121/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-girl-to-sing-anthem-in-nhl-first-at-saddledome-1.651358| url-status=live}}</ref>


], ], the ], and the NHL all require venues to perform both the Canadian and ]s at games that involve teams from both countries (including ]s), with the away team's anthem being performed first, followed by the host country.<ref>{{cite web|last=Allen|first=Kevin|accessdate=October 29, 2008|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2003-03-23-anthem-booing_x.htm|title=NHL Seeks to Stop Booing For a Song|work=USA Today|date=March 23, 2003}}</ref> The NHL's ] play both anthems before every home game, regardless of the opponent, in recognition of the team's significant Canadian fanbase.{{Citation needed|date=December 2017}} ] teams have played the song at games involving the ] and the former ],<ref>{{cite book|author=Wayne C. Thompson|title=Canada 2012|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K_TMjS9UI5IC&pg=PA11|year=2012|publisher=Stryker Post|isbn=978-1-61048-884-6|page=11}}</ref> and ] teams do so for games involving the ], and previously, the ]. ] has the anthem performed at matches involving ], ], and ]. ], ], the ], and the NHL all require venues to perform both the Canadian and ]s at games that involve teams from both countries (including ]s), with the away team's anthem being performed first, followed by the host country.<ref>{{cite web|last=Allen|first=Kevin|access-date=October 29, 2008|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2003-03-23-anthem-booing_x.htm|title=NHL Seeks to Stop Booing For a Song|work=USA Today|date=March 23, 2003|archive-date=March 5, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305040310/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2003-03-23-anthem-booing_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The NHL's ] play both anthems before every home game, regardless of the opponent, in recognition of the team's significant Canadian fanbase.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pepper |first=Tom |date=2022-01-30 |title=Buffalo Sabres' History with Canada |url=https://thehockeywriters.com/buffalo-sabres-o-canada-history-relationship/ |access-date=2022-08-07 |website=The Hockey Writers |language=en-us |archive-date=October 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001121451/https://thehockeywriters.com/buffalo-sabres-o-canada-history-relationship/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ] teams have played the song at games involving the ] and the former ],<ref>{{cite book|author=Wayne C. Thompson|title=Canada 2012|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781610488839|url-access=registration|year=2012|publisher=Stryker Post|isbn=978-1-61048-884-6|page=}}</ref> and ] teams do so for games involving the ], and previously, the ]. ] has the anthem performed at matches involving ], ], and ]. In addition, in recognition of their Canadian fanbase, the ] of the ] plays "O Canada" before "The Star-Spangled Banner" at their home games, despite there being no Canadian-based NFL team. "O Canada" has also been performed during NHL Global Series games involving Canadian teams as well as NBA Global Games involving the Raptors and MLB World Tour games involving the Blue Jays.


==Laws and etiquette== ==Laws and etiquette==
].]]
The ''National Anthem Act'' specifies the lyrics and melody of "O Canada", placing both of them in the ], allowing the anthem to be freely reproduced or used as a base for derived works, including musical arrangements.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/N-2/page-1.html| author=Department of Justice| title=National Anthem Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. N-2)| year=2011| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada| accessdate=April 15, 2011}}</ref><ref>''National Anthem Act'', RSC 1985, c N-2, available with schedule at http://canlii.ca/t/7vjb</ref> There are no regulations governing the performance of "O Canada", leaving citizens to exercise their best judgment. When it is performed at an event, traditional etiquette is to either start or end the ceremonies with the anthem, including situations when other anthems are played and for the audience to stand during the performance. Civilian men usually remove their hats, while women and children are not required to do so.<ref name="DCHOCanada2">{{cite web| url=http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1443808632931| last=Department of Canadian Heritage| authorlink=Department of Canadian Heritage| title=Anthems of Canada| publisher=Government of Canada| accessdate=June 2, 2016}}</ref> Military men and women in uniform traditionally keep their hats on and offer the military salute during the performance of the anthem, with the salute offered in the direction of the ] if one is present, and if not present it is offered standing at attention.<ref name="DCHOCanada2"/>
The ''National Anthem Act'' specifies the lyrics and melody of "O Canada", placing both of them in the ], allowing the anthem to be freely reproduced or used as a base for derived works, including musical arrangements.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/N-2/page-1.html| author=Department of Justice| title=National Anthem Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. N-2)| year=2011| publisher=Queen's Printer for Canada| access-date=April 15, 2011| archive-date=February 8, 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208141006/http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/N-2/page-1.html| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>''National Anthem Act'', RSC 1985, c N-2, available with schedule at http://canlii.ca/t/7vjb</ref> There are no regulations governing the performance of "O Canada", leaving citizens to exercise their best judgment. When it is performed at an event, traditional etiquette is to either start or end the ceremonies with the anthem, including situations when other anthems are played and for the audience to stand during the performance. Civilian men usually remove their hats, while women and children are not required to do so.<ref name="DCHOCanada2">{{cite web| url=http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1443808632931| last=Department of Canadian Heritage| author-link=Department of Canadian Heritage| title=Anthems of Canada| publisher=Government of Canada| access-date=June 2, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160226163345/http://canada.pch.gc.ca/eng/1443808632931| archive-date=February 26, 2016| url-status=dead}}</ref> Military men and women in uniform traditionally keep their hats on and offer the military salute during the performance of the anthem, with the salute offered in the direction of the ] if one is present, and if not present it is offered standing at attention.<ref name="DCHOCanada2"/>


Presently, provincial law in Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Prince Edward Island mandate the national anthem be played daily in elementary and secondary schools.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ppm/108.html|title=Policy/Program Memorandum No. 108|publisher=Queen's Printer for Ontario|date=November 23, 2006|accessdate=May 29, 2019}}</ref><ref name=reg>{{cite journal|title=Patriotism, nationalism, and national identity in music education: 'O Canada', how well do we know thee?|journal=]|last1=Kennedy|first1=Mary Copland|last2=Guerrini|first2=Susan Carol|volume=31|issue=1|year=2012|doi=10.1177/0255761411433722|url=http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.1023.9255&rep=rep1&type=pdf|page=81}}</ref> "O Canada" is to be played in British Columbia schools at least three times a year at assemblies.<ref name=reg/> Other provinces and territories do not have legal provisions around it playing in schools.<ref name=reg/> Presently, provincial regulations and policies in Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Prince Edward Island mandate the national anthem to be played daily in public elementary and secondary schools.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ppm/108.html|title=Policy/Program Memorandum No. 108|publisher=Queen's Printer for Ontario|date=November 23, 2006|access-date=May 29, 2019|archive-date=May 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190519235357/http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ppm/108.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=reg>{{cite journal|title=Patriotism, nationalism, and national identity in music education: 'O Canada', how well do we know thee?|journal=]|last1=Kennedy|first1=Mary Copland|last2=Guerrini|first2=Susan Carol|volume=31|issue=1|year=2012|doi=10.1177/0255761411433722|page=81|citeseerx=10.1.1.1023.9255|s2cid=147372835}}</ref> "O Canada" is to be played in British Columbia schools at least three times a year at assemblies.<ref name=reg/> Other provinces and territories do not have provincially-mandated regulations and policies for playing the national anthem in schools.<ref name=reg/>


==Adaptations== ==Adaptations==
In the 1950s, "O Canada's" melody was adapted for the school anthem of the ]. Titled "]" or simply "The Ateneo de Manila Graduation Hymn", the song's lyrics were written by ] ], and the tune was adapted by Col. José Campaña.<ref>{{cite web| title=A Song For Mary| url=http://www.ateneo.edu/song-mary| website=ateneo.edu| accessdate=June 14, 2015}}</ref> In the 1950s, the melody of "O Canada" was adapted for the school anthem of the ]. Titled "]" or simply "The Ateneo de Manila Graduation Hymn", the lyrics were written by ], ], and the original tune adapted by Col. José Manela Campaña, bandmaster of the defunct ].<ref>{{cite web| title=A Song For Mary| url=http://www.ateneo.edu/song-mary| website=ateneo.edu| access-date=June 14, 2015| archive-date=June 29, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629233715/http://www.ateneo.edu/song-mary| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=THE PHILIPPINE CONSTABULARY BAND |url=https://www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph/himig/the-philippine-constabulary-band/ |website=The Filipinas Heritage Library}}</ref>


==See also== ==See also==
{{Portal|Music|Canada|History}} {{portal|Canada|Music}}
* ]
* ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]

{{clear}}
==Notes==
{{notelist}}


==References== ==References==
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==External links== ==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{Wikisource}} {{Wikisource}}
* *
* *
* *
* {{librivox book | title=O Canada | author=Robert Stanley Weir}} * {{librivox book | title=O Canada | author=Robert Stanley Weir}}


{{Canadian identity}} {{Canadian identity}}
{{National Anthems of North America}}{{Authority control}} {{National Anthems of North America}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Subject bar|commons=yes|commons-search=Category:O Canada|s=yes|d=yes|d-search=Q93359}}
{{good article}} {{good article}}


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Latest revision as of 23:40, 29 December 2024

National anthem of Canada This article is about the national anthem of Canada. For other uses, see O Canada (disambiguation).

"O Canada"
Official bilingual sheet music

National anthem of Canada
Also known asFrench: Ô Canada
LyricsAdolphe-Basile Routhier (French, 1880), Robert Stanley Weir (English, 1908)
MusicCalixa Lavallée, 1880
AdoptedJuly 1, 1980
Audio sample
Instrumental rendition by the Royal Canadian Navy's National Band of the Naval Reserve
This article contains special characters. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols.

"O Canada" (French: Ô Canada) is the national anthem of Canada. The song was originally commissioned by Lieutenant Governor of Quebec Théodore Robitaille for the 1880 Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day ceremony; Calixa Lavallée composed the music, after which French-language words were written by the poet and judge Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier.

The original French lyrics were translated to English in 1906. Multiple English versions ensued, with Robert Stanley Weir's 1908 version (which was not a translation of the French lyrics) gaining the most popularity; the Weir lyrics eventually served as the basis for the official lyrics enacted by Parliament. Weir's English-language lyrics have been revised three times, most recently when An Act to amend the National Anthem Act (gender) was enacted in 2018. The French lyrics remain unaltered.

"O Canada" had served as a de facto national anthem since 1939, officially becoming the country's national anthem in 1980 when Canada's National Anthem Act received royal assent and became effective on July 1 as part of that year's Dominion Day (today's Canada Day) celebrations.

Melody

"O Canada" is a 28-bar song originally written in the key of F major for four voices and piano, as a march in 4/4 time to be played "maestoso e risoluto" ("majestic and resolved"). The original manuscript has been lost.


{
\clef treble \key f \major \tempo 4=100 \set Staff.midiInstrument = "clarinet" {
      \set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t
      \override Score.BarNumber #'transparent = ##t
      \time 4/4
      \transpose c c'
      \relative
      { a2 c4. c8 | f,2. g4 | a bes c d | g,2. r4 | a2 b4. b8 | c2. d4 | e e d d | c2. \bar"" \break
      g8. a16 | bes4. a8 g4 a8. bes16 | c4. bes8 a4 bes8. c16 | d4 c bes a | g2. g8. a16 | bes4. a8 g4 a8. bes16 | c4. bes8 a4 \bar"" \break
      a | g c c8 b a b | c2. r4 | a2 c4. c8 | f,2. r4 | bes2 d4. d8 | g,2. r4 | \break
      c2 cis4. cis8 | d4 bes a g | f2 g | a2. r4 | c2 f4. f8 | d4 bes a g | c2 e, | f1 \bar "|."}
    }
  }

Musicologist Ross Duffin has argued that Lavallée constructed the melody for "O Canada" by adapting material by Mozart ("March of the Priests", measures 1–8), Wagner ("Wach auf, es nahet gen den Tag", measures 9–16), Liszt ("Festklänge", measures 17–20), and Matthias Keller ("The American Hymn", measures 21–28).

Lyrics

The National Anthem Act established set lyrics for "O Canada" in Canada's two official languages, English and French. However, the two sets of lyrics are not translations of each other.

The lyrics are as follows:

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. 𝄇

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. 𝄇

English translation by the parliamentary
Translation Bureau


O Canada!
Land of our ancestors
Glorious deeds circle your brow
For your arm knows how to wield the sword
Your arm knows how to carry the cross;
Your history is an epic
Of brilliant deeds
And your valour steeped in faith
𝄆 Will protect our homes and our rights. 𝄇

IPA transcription









𝄆 𝄇

Bilingual version 1

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all of us command.
Car ton bras sait porter l'épée,
Il sait porter la croix!
Ton histoire est une épopée
Des plus brillants exploits.
God keep our land glorious and free!
𝄆 O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. 𝄇

Bilingual version 2

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.
God keep our land glorious and free!
𝄆 O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. 𝄇

1928 orchestral and vocal recording in English (two verses) Edward Johnson singing Weir's original lyrics
1918 orchestral and vocal recording in French (two verses) First and fourth verses sung by the Quatuor Octave Pelletier
1916 band instrumental recording (three verses) Performed by the Victor Military Band
1927 bell tower instrumental recording (two verses) (followed by "God Save the King") Performed by Percival Price using carillon bell at the Peace Tower in Ottawa
"O Canada" Sung by Henry Burr in 1914
Problems playing these files? See media help.

The line "The True North strong and free" is based on Lord Tennyson's description of Canada as "that true North, whereof we lately heard / A strain to shame us". In the context of Tennyson's poem To the Queen, the word true means "loyal" or "faithful".

The lyrics and melody of "O Canada" are both in the public domain, a status unaffected by the trademarking of the phrases "with glowing hearts" and "des plus brillants exploits" for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Two provinces have adopted Latin translations of phrases from the English lyrics as their mottos: ManitobaGloriosus et Liber (Glorious and Free)—and AlbertaFortis et Liber (Strong and Free). Similarly, the Canadian Army's motto is Vigilamus pro te (we stand on guard for thee).

Translations

The lyrics have been translated into several indigenous languages of Canada, including Inuktitut, Ojibwe, Cree and Mi'kmaq. There is also a trilingual version, in English, French and Inuktitut.

History

The French lyrics of "O Canada" were written by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier, to music composed by Calixa Lavallée, as a French Canadian patriotic song for the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society and first performed on June 24, 1880, at a Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day banquet in Quebec City. At that time, the "Chant National", also by Routhier, was popular amongst Francophones as an anthem, while "God Save the Queen" and "The Maple Leaf Forever" had, since 1867, been competing as unofficial national anthems in English Canada. "O Canada" joined that fray when a group of school children sang it for the 1901 tour of Canada by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall (later King George V and Queen Mary). This was the first known performance of the song outside Quebec.

Sheet music for an English-language version of "O Canada" published in 1906.

Five years later, the Whaley and Royce company in Toronto published the music with the French text and a first translation into English by Thomas Bedford Richardson and, in 1908, Collier's Weekly magazine held a competition to write new English lyrics for "O Canada". The competition was won by Mercy E. Powell McCulloch, but her version never gained wide acceptance. In fact, many made English translations of Routhier's words; however, the most popular version was created in 1908 by Robert Stanley Weir, a lawyer and Recorder of the City of Montreal. Weir's lyrics from 1908 contained no religious references and used the phrase "thou dost in us command" before they were changed by Weir in 1913 to read "in all thy sons command". In 1926, a fourth verse of a religious nature was added. A slightly modified version was officially published for the Diamond Jubilee of Confederation in 1927, and gradually it became the most widely accepted and performed version of this song.

The tune was thought to have become the de facto national anthem after King George VI remained at attention during its playing at the dedication of the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Ontario, on May 21, 1939; though George was actually following a precedent set by his brother, Edward, the previous king of Canada, when he dedicated the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France in 1936. By-laws and practices governing the use of song during public events in municipalities varied; in Toronto, "God Save the King" or "God Save the Queen" was employed, while in Montreal it was "O Canada".

Musicologist Ross Duffin has made an extended argument that Lavallée constructed the melody for "O Canada" by adapting material by Mozart ("March of the Priests", measures 1–8), Liszt ("Festklänge", measures 17–20), Wagner ("Wach auf, es nahet gen den Tag", measures 9–16), and Matthias Keller ("The American Hymn", measures 21–28).

Adoption

Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson in 1964 said one song would have to be chosen as the country's national anthem and the government resolved to form a joint committee to review the status of the two musical works. The next year, Pearson put to the House of Commons a motion that "the government be authorized to take such steps as may be necessary to provide that 'O Canada' shall be the National Anthem of Canada while 'God Save the Queen' shall be the Royal Anthem of Canada", of which parliament approved. In 1967, the Prime Minister advised Governor General Georges Vanier to appoint the Special Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Commons on the National and Royal Anthems; the group first met in February and, within two months, on April 12, 1967, presented its conclusion that "O Canada" should be designated as the national anthem and "God Save the Queen" as the royal anthem of Canada, one verse from each, in both official languages, to be adopted by parliament. The group was then charged with establishing official lyrics for each song. For "O Canada", the Robert Stanley Weir version of 1908 was recommended for the English words, with a few minor changes: two of the "stand on guard" phrases were replaced with "from far and wide" and "God keep our land".

In 1970, the Queen in Right of Canada purchased the right to the lyrics and music of "O Canada" from Gordon V. Thompson Music for $1. The song finally became the official national anthem in 1980 with the passage of the National Anthem Act. The Act replaced two of the repetitions of the phrase "We stand on guard" in the English lyrics, as had been proposed by the Senate Special Joint Committee. This change was controversial with traditionalists and, for several years afterwards, it was not uncommon to hear people still singing the old lyrics at public events. In contrast, the French lyrics are unchanged from the original version.

Inclusive language debates

In June 1990, Toronto City Council voted 12 to 7 in favour of recommending to the Canadian government that the phrase "our home and native land" be changed to "our home and cherished land" and that "in all thy sons command" be partly reverted to "in all of us command". Councillor Howard Moscoe said that the words "native land" were not appropriate for the many Canadians who were not native-born and that the word "sons" implied "that women can't feel true patriotism or love for Canada". Senator Vivienne Poy similarly criticized the English lyrics of the anthem as being sexist and she introduced a bill in 2002 proposing to change the phrase "in all thy sons command" to "in all of us command". In the late 2000s, the anthem's religious references (to God in English and to the Christian cross in French) were criticized by secularists.

In the speech from the throne delivered by Governor General Michaëlle Jean on March 3, 2010, a plan to have parliament review the "original gender-neutral wording of the national anthem" was announced. However, three-quarters of Canadians polled after the speech objected to the proposal and, two days later, the prime minister's office announced that the cabinet had decided not to restore the original lyrics.

In another attempt to make the anthem gender-neutral, Liberal MP Mauril Bélanger introduced a private member's bill in September 2014. His Bill C-624, An Act to amend the National Anthem Act (gender), was defeated at second reading in April 2015. Following the 2015 federal election, Bélanger reintroduced the bill in the new parliament as Bill C-210 in January 2016. In June 2016, the bill passed its third reading with a vote of 225 to 74 in the House of Commons. The bill passed its third reading in the Senate with a voice vote on January 31, 2018, and received royal assent on February 7, 2018.

Second, third and fourth stanzas: historical refrain

A page from Hymns of the Christian Life, 1962, depicting then long-standing refrain lyrics to "O Canada", but not the original

Below are the second, third and fourth stanzas. These are rarely sung.

II
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!

Chorus
God keep our land glorious and free!
𝄆 O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. 𝄇

III
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!

Chorus

IV
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.

Chorus

Original French version

The first verse is the same. The other verses follow.

II
Sous l'œil de Dieu, près du fleuve géant,
Le Canadien grandit en espérant.
Il est né d'une race fière,
Béni fut son berceau.
Le ciel a marqué sa carrière
Dans ce monde nouveau.
Toujours guidé par sa lumière,
𝄆 Il gardera l'honneur de son drapeau. 𝄇

III
De son patron, précurseur du vrai Dieu,
Il porte au front l'auréole de feu.
Ennemi de la tyrannie
Mais plein de loyauté,
Il veut garder dans l'harmonie,
Sa fière liberté;
Et par l'effort de son génie,
𝄆 Sur notre sol asseoir la vérité. 𝄇

IV
Amour sacré du trône et de l'autel,
Remplis nos cœurs de ton souffle immortel!
Parmi les races étrangères,
Notre guide est la loi :
Sachons être un peuple de frères,
Sous le joug de la foi.
Et répétons, comme nos pères,
𝄆 Le cri vainqueur : « Pour le Christ et le roi! » 𝄇

II
Under the eye of God, near the giant river,
The Canadian grows hoping.
He was born of a proud race,
Blessed was his birthplace.
Heaven has noted his career
In this new world.
Always guided by its light,
𝄆 He will keep the honour of his flag. 𝄇

III
From his patron, the precursor of the true God,
He wears the halo of fire on his brow.
Enemy of tyranny
But full of loyalty,
He wants to keep in harmony,
His proud freedom;
And by the effort of his genius,
𝄆 Set on our ground the truth. 𝄇

IV
Sacred love of the throne and the altar,
Fill our hearts with your immortal breath!
Among the foreign races,
Our guide is the law:
Let us know how to be a people of brothers,
Under the yoke of faith.
And repeat, like our fathers,
𝄆 The battle cry: "For Christ and King!" 𝄇

Performances

Lyndon Slewidge singing O Canada prior to a Ottawa Senators game.

"O Canada" is routinely played before sporting events involving Canadian teams. Singers at such public events often mix the English and French lyrics to represent Canada's linguistic duality. Other linguistic variations have also been performed: During the opening ceremonies of the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, "O Canada" was sung in the southern Tutchone language by Yukon native Daniel Tlen. At a National Hockey League (NHL) game in Calgary, in February 2007, Cree singer Akina Shirt became the first person to perform "O Canada" in the Cree language at such an event.

Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, the National Basketball Association, and the NHL all require venues to perform both the Canadian and American national anthems at games that involve teams from both countries (including all-star games), with the away team's anthem being performed first, followed by the host country. The NHL's Buffalo Sabres play both anthems before every home game, regardless of the opponent, in recognition of the team's significant Canadian fanbase. Major League Baseball teams have played the song at games involving the Toronto Blue Jays and the former Montreal Expos, and National Basketball Association teams do so for games involving the Toronto Raptors, and previously, the Vancouver Grizzlies. Major League Soccer has the anthem performed at matches involving Toronto FC, CF Montréal, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. In addition, in recognition of their Canadian fanbase, the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League plays "O Canada" before "The Star-Spangled Banner" at their home games, despite there being no Canadian-based NFL team. "O Canada" has also been performed during NHL Global Series games involving Canadian teams as well as NBA Global Games involving the Raptors and MLB World Tour games involving the Blue Jays.

Laws and etiquette

A portion of O Canada's lyrics on a stained glass at the Royal Military College of Canada.

The National Anthem Act specifies the lyrics and melody of "O Canada", placing both of them in the public domain, allowing the anthem to be freely reproduced or used as a base for derived works, including musical arrangements. There are no regulations governing the performance of "O Canada", leaving citizens to exercise their best judgment. When it is performed at an event, traditional etiquette is to either start or end the ceremonies with the anthem, including situations when other anthems are played and for the audience to stand during the performance. Civilian men usually remove their hats, while women and children are not required to do so. Military men and women in uniform traditionally keep their hats on and offer the military salute during the performance of the anthem, with the salute offered in the direction of the Canadian Flag if one is present, and if not present it is offered standing at attention.

Presently, provincial regulations and policies in Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Prince Edward Island mandate the national anthem to be played daily in public elementary and secondary schools. "O Canada" is to be played in British Columbia schools at least three times a year at assemblies. Other provinces and territories do not have provincially-mandated regulations and policies for playing the national anthem in schools.

Adaptations

In the 1950s, the melody of "O Canada" was adapted for the school anthem of the Ateneo de Manila University. Titled "A Song for Mary" or simply "The Ateneo de Manila Graduation Hymn", the lyrics were written by James B. Reuter, SJ, and the original tune adapted by Col. José Manela Campaña, bandmaster of the defunct Philippine Constabulary Band.

See also

Notes

  1. See Help:IPA/French, Canadian French and Quebec French phonology.

References

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