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Growing up in the USA, I of course, know the National Anthem - the Star Spangled Banner and the history behind the song. Since I am a "Lost Canadian", I thought I should learn the history behind the Canadian National Anthem - and learn the Anthem, too. Today I am happy to share with you what I have learned.
First for the history behind the song, O Canada! -
“O Canada” came into being in 1880, 100 years before it became Canada’s National Anthem.
O Canada! Our home and native land!
(Refrain) God keep our land glorious and free!
True patriot love in all of us 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.
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,
Though land of hope for all who toil!
Thou True North, strong and free!(Refrain)
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!(Refrain)
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.(Refrain)
O Canada! was commissioned by the Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec, the Honorable Théodore Robitaille, to mark the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day celebrations in the City of Québec on June 24, 1880. Calixa Lavallée, known as “Canada’s national musician”, was asked to compose the music for a poem written by Adolphe-Basile Routhier. As intended, the first performance of “O Canada” took place on June 24, 1880, at a banquet held at the Pavillon des Patineurs in the City of Québec. As the song became increasingly popular in English Canada, many English adaptations of its original French lyrics were created and sung across Canada. Arguably the most popular version was written in 1908 by Robert Stanley Weir.
Weir’s lyrics, having undergone a few minor modifications from their original form, became the official English version of Canada’s national anthem with the passing of the National Anthem Act, in 1980. The official French version of the anthem featured the original French lyrics, which have remained unchanged since 1880.
On January 31, 2018, legislation was enacted to change the English lyrics to ensure gender parity. The verse “True patriot love in all thy sons command” was changed to “True patriot love in all of us command.” No change was required to the French version.
Calixa Lavallée was a prolific musician and composer. He was already well known before composing the music to what would become Canada’s National Anthem.
Adolphe-Basile Routhier was born on May 8, 1839, in Saint-Placide, Quebec. Routhier was an accomplished poet. Having gained the admiration of the Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec, he would be asked, in 1880, to write the poem “Ô Canada”, which would be put to music by Calixa Lavallée and become our National Anthem a century later. The words of Routhier’s French poem have remained unchanged since their composition in 1880.
Robert Stanley Weir was born in Hamilton, Ontario, in 1856. After pursuing higher education in Montréal, he embarked on a career in law and rapidly rose in the profession. Weir wrote an English version of Routhier’s French poem in 1908. Among the many English versions of this increasingly popular song and poem, Weir’s stood the test of time and would be adopted, with only minor changes from its original composition, to form the English lyrics of our National Anthem.
Generally, audiences should not applaud after the playing of the national anthem.
As a matter of respect and tradition, it is customary, where appropriate, to stand for the playing of “O Canada”; this is also the case for the anthem of any other nation. While previous traditions called for civilian men to remove their hats, current practice carries no such expectation and leaves the decision to keep or remove head coverings to the individual, regardless of gender. Traditions and practices surrounding head coverings with cultural and/or religions significance should be respected.
As the National Anthem Act only sets the melody and the lyrics for the anthem, musicians are free to arrange the score to suit their needs.
There is no copyright on the melody and the words of the national anthem, the Act having declared them to be in the public domain. They may be used without having to obtain permission from the government. However, it is possible to copyright the arrangements made to the melody.
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