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 Lavalle (184291), a concert pianist and native of Verchres, 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 (18391920), 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 (18561926), 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! 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! 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! O Canada! Terre de nos aeux, Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux! Car ton bras sait porter l'pe, Il sait porter la croix! Ton histoire est une pope Des plus brillants exploits. Et ta valeur, de foi trempe, Protgera nos foyers et nos droits, Protgera nos foyers et nos droits. Sous l'oeil de Dieu, prs du fleuve gant, Le Canadien grandit en esprant. Il est n d'une race fire, Bni fut son berceau. Le ciel a marqu sa carrire Dans ce monde nouveau. Toujours guid par sa lumire, Il gardera l'honneur de son drapeau, Il gardera l'honneur de son drapeau. De son patron, prcurseur du vrai Dieu, Il porte au front l'aurole de feu. Ennemi de la tyrannie Mais plein de loyaut, Il veut garder dans l'harmonie, Sa fire libert; Et par l'effort de son gnie, Sur notre sol asseoir la vrit, Sur notre sol asseoir la vrit. Amour sacr du trne et de l'autel, Remplis nos coeurs de ton souffle immortel! Parmi les races trangres, Notre guide est la loi: Sachons tre un peuple de frres, Sous le joug de la foi. Et rptons, comme nos pres, Le cri vainqueur: Pour le Christ et le roi, Le cri vainqueur: Pour le Christ et le roi.