O Canada! National anthem of Canada.
It was proclaimed the official national anthem on July 1,
1980. God Save the Queen (q.v.) remains the royal
anthem of Canada.
The music, written by Calixa Lavallée (1842–91), a concert
pianist and native of Verchères, Que., was commissioned in 1880
on the occasion of a visit to Quebec by Lord Lorne (later Duke
of Argyll), then governor-general of Canada, and his
wife, Queen Victoria's daughter Princess Louise. The
original French lyrics were written by Sir Adolphe Basile
Routhier (1839–1920), later chief justice of Quebec. The
English lyrics (which are not a translation or rendering of the
French) were written in 1908 by Robert Stanley Weir
(1856–1926), a lawyer and recorder of Montreal.
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;
And stand on guard, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
O Canada! Glorious and free!
We stand on guard, we stand
on guard for thee,
O Canada! We stand on guard for thee.
O Canada! Where pines and maples grow,
Great prairies spread and lordly rivers flow,
How dear to us thy broad domain,
From East to Western sea!
Thou land of hope for all who toil!
Thou True North strong and free!
O Canada! Glorious and free! [etc.]
O Canada! Beneath thy shining skies
May stalwart sons and gentle maidens rise
To keep thee steadfast thro' the years
From East to Western sea,
Our own beloved native land,
Our True North strong and free!
O Canada! Glorious and free! [etc.]
Ruler supreme, Who hearest humble
pray'r,
Hold our Dominion in 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.
O Canada! Glorious and free! [etc.]
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.
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.
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.
Amour sacré du trône et de
l'autel,
Remplis nos coeurs 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,”
Le cri vainqueur: “Pour le Christ et le roi.”
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