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O Canada

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O Canada is the national anthem of Canada. The music was composed by Calixa Lavallée, and the original French lyrics were written by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier, as a French-Canadian patriotic song for the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society. It was first performed on June 24, 1880 at a Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day banquet in Quebec City, but did not become Canada's official national anthem until July 1, 1980. The official English version is based on a poem written by Robert Stanley Weir. Changes to the English version were made in 1968 following recommendations made by a Special Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Commons.

Official English Lyrics

FIRST VERSE 

O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons 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.

CHORUS 

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

SECOND VERSE 

O Canada! Where pines and maples grow,
Great Praries spread, and lordly rivers flow.
How dear to us they broad domain,
From East to Western Sea!
Thy land of hope for all who toil,
Thou True North strong and free!

CHORUS

The anthem is typically sung without the second verse. The line "The True North strong and free" is based on Alfred Lord Tennyson's description of Canada as "That True North whereof we lately heard."

Official 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.

O Canada! Land of our forefathers,
Thy brow is wreathed with glorious garlands.
For your arm can bear the sword,
And it can bear the cross;
Your history is an epic
Of the most brilliant feats.
And your valour, steeped in faith
Will protect our homes and our rights,

Will protect our homes and our rights.


Occasionally, singers mix the lyrics across languages in various patterns.

In recent years, the English version of the anthem has been criticized for being sexist ("true patriot love in all thy sons command"); alternate lyrics ("in all of us command") have been proposed but have so far gotten nowhere.

However, if one sings the first two lines in French, the next four in English, and end the song in French, one avoids both sexist language and religious references (except for foi "faith" which could just as easily be faith in one's country and fellow citizens), expresses national unity, and remains unimpeachable on grounds of revisionism, as both versions are just as official.

External links with information to be used in this article:

http://www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/ceremonial-symb/english/emb_anthem.html
http://www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/ceremonial-symb/francais/emb_anthem.html