The best version of our national anthem that I’ve ever heard was produced by a school choir at First Avenue Public School in Ottawa. I’ve never heard it live but every time I hear a recording made by these elementary level children I feel a thrill of pride. It took an enormous amount of talent by the music teacher to bring out such quality — because I think we’ve got one of the dullest national anthems in the world.
Now hold the umbrage. I’ve got a couple of words to add that will transform the anthem and cause you to forgive my audacity.
The original version of the verse was put to music by French-Canadian Calixa Lavallée. Mr. Lavallée had spent many years doing good work in the field of American music. On a trip home he was asked to put to music the original version of O Canada. Poor Calixa Lavallée must have been suffering from gout. Only the elementary school students at First Avenue have been able to rescue it and make it soar.
Other countries have moving national anthems that combine inspiring words with inspiring music. Who has not been moved by that of France? Or Russia? And yes, even God Save the Queen has more power in it than O Canada. Every time I hear the American national anthem I marvel at the music — taken from an old English drinking song — and I’m moved to tears of pride in hope and courage by the imagery prompted by the words. Take for example:
In the rockets red glare
The bombs bursting in air
We saw through the night
That our flag was still there
Heroic. Absolutely heroic.
It’s not to say that we haven’t had good words and music to move the heart and mind. Take The Maple Leaf Forever. If memory serves, some of it goes something like this:
In days of yore
From Britain’s shore
Wolfe the dauntless hero came
And planted firm
Britannia’s flag
In Canada’s fair domain
Long may it wave
Our boast our pride
The maple leaf forever
The thistle, shamrock, rose entwine
The maple leaf forever.
Umm . . . well . . . there’s the rub. The thistle, shamrock, rose entwine . . . Immigrants came from mainland Europe and elsewhere and rendered that beautiful marching song out of date.
And so we’re sort of stuck with O Canada. At least it’s a lot better than that dreadful dirge that became the theme song for Canada’s one-hundredth birthday in 1967.
There’s been an uncounted number of versions of O Canada. However, my research reveals that the version that gained the widest currency was made in 1908 by Robert Stanley Weir, a lawyer and at the time Recorder of the City of Montréal. A slightly modified version of the 1908 poem was published in an official form for the Diamond Jubilee of Confederation in 1927, and has since been generally accepted in English speaking Canada.
Following further minor amendments, the first verse of Weir's poem was proclaimed as Canada's national anthem in 1980. The version adopted pursuant to the National Anthem Act in 1980 reads as follows (now pay attention here because after the official version I’ll offer my amendment that is sure to be accepted without challenge.) First the official version:
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.
Now for my amendment to make it right. The second line should read:
True patriot love in all OF US command.
As this version sweeps the nation, remember you read it here first.
Happy Canada Day!
(We’re taking Monday off but we’ll be back stronger than ever on Wednesday, July 4.)
Looking forward
Carl Dow
Editor and Publisher
True North Perspective.
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