Also known as "O Canada", in its original form, since it was a French-language song.

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.


It didn't officially become the national anthem until Canada Day in 1980, a century after it was written by Calixa Lavallée (music) and Adolphe-Basile Routhier. The first English words (and they have never been a literal translation, farts or no farts) were written in 1908, and have had a few changes over the years - I think "God keep our land" was the most recent one (post-1980?).
When run through babelfish, the original French version above translates thus:

O Canada! Ground of our aïeux,
Your face east girds glorious florets!
Because your arm can carry the sword,
It can carry the cross!
Your history is épopée,
more brilliant exploits.
And your value, from soaked faith,
Will protect our homes and our rights.
Will protect our homes and our rights.

I may weep openly.
You'll be surprised to learn that the Canadian national anthem was originally a french poem sung for the first time on june 24 1880. June 24 is the St-Jean-Baptiste Day, Quebec's national celebration used nowadays to blame Canada and promote the separation of the Quebec Province.

Written by Adolphe-Basile Routhier and interpreted by Calixa Lavallée, it was quickly considered as the french canadian national anthem, since the english were still singing God Save The Queen. In 1908, Robert Stanley Weir translated it in english, but it only became the national anthem in 1980, right after the loss of the Quebec separation referendum.

Original song (the actual song is only composed of the first verse)
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.

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!»

A song which was proclaimed the national anthem of Canada on Canada Day, July 1, 1980.

The music for this song was written in 1880 by Calixa Lavallée, a well-known composer, to accompany a poem penned by Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier, a judge. The original lyrics were in French, and the song was first sung in French on St Jean-Baptiste Day, June 24, 1880, at the "Congrès national des Canadiens-Français".

There are many English versions of this popular song, but the one that is the basis of the anthem was written in 1908 by another judge, Robert Stanley Weir. His version was slightly revised based on changes suggested in 1968 by a Senate and House of Commons special joint committee. The French version of the anthem remains unchanged.

The official English anthem:

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.

Weir's version of the poem is much longer; only the first verse is used in the official anthem, and the words have been slightly changed:

O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love thou dost in us command.
We see thee rising fair, dear land,
The True North, strong and free;
And stand on guard, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
O Canada! O Canada!
O Canada! 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! 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!

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.

The official French anthem, as originally written:

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.

An English translation of the official French anthem:

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.

As with many things Canadian, what the English and the French learn are rather different, and this is not just a language issue.

www.singforcanada.ca/anthem.html
www.pch.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp/sc-cs/anthem_e.cfm#h2

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