ENGLISH LYRICS

1. 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. 
God keep our land glorious and free! 
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. 
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. 

2. 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! 
God keep our land glorious and free! 
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. 
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. 

3. 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! 
God keep our land glorious and free! 
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. 
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. 

4. 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. 
God keep our land glorious and free! 
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. 
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. 

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FRENCH LYRICS

1. O 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. 

2. Sous l'oeil 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,
Il gardera l'honneur de son drapeau.

3. 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,
Sur notre Sol asseoir la vérité!

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

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ENGLISH TRANSLATION

1. O Canada! Land of our forefathers
Thy brow is wreathed with a glorious garland of flowers.
As in thy arm ready to wield the sword, 
So also is it ready to carry the cross.
Thy history is an epic of the most brilliant exploits. 
Thy valour steeped in faith
Will protect our homes and our rights
Will protect our homes and our rights.

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Canada
"O Canada"

Words by:Adolphe-Basile Routhier (French), Robert Stanley Weir (English)
Music by:Calixa Lavallee
Adopted:1980

"O Canada" was written in 1880 and was sung for the first time later that year
at a banquet in the Pavillion des Patineurs in Quebec City. The French words
have remained the same to this day. The English version, however, has a more
interesting history. When Routhier's lyrics were first published in Toronto, a
doctor named Thomas Bedford Richardson translated the words into English and to
fit the melody. Two years later, the first edition of the Canadian version of
Collier's Weekly held a competition to write English lyrics to the song. Mercy
E. Powell McCulloch won the competition with her entry. The words were
rewritten again and again, but one version gained the most popularity. It was
written by Montreal lawyer Robert Stanley Weir, and only slightly differs from
the English version used since "O Canada" was officially declared the national
anthem in 1980, one century after it was composed.

Before the official adoption of "O Canada" in 1980, the official national
anthem of Canada was "God_Save_the_Queen", yet "O Canada" was used on an
unofficial basis, as well as the patriotic song "The Maple Leaf Forever"

Canada, being a former British colony (and "O Canada" being composed not that
long after independence was granted), has its anthem in the "Western_hymn"
style of anthem.

For the past few decades, there has been an on-again/off-again movement to once
more slightly alter the English lyrics of the national anthem, from "In all thy
sons command" to "In all thy hearts command", to be more inclusive. Keep
watching this page for more information.

It is interesting to note that, while having both English and French lyrics
(Canada is an officially bilingual country), and both languages' version of the
anthem share the same melody, each official language has different words for
the anthem. The lyrics below give the official English and French lyrics, as
well as the official English translation of the French lyrics.

There are also other patriotic songs (including "The Maple Leaf Forever,"
above) for Canada and her provinces and regions as well as the nation as a
whole, you can find a list at the Canadian_Heritage (a government agency)
website.

See also: Newfoundland, Acadia.

