History of Oh Canada Lyrics
O Canada was declared Canada’s national anthem in 1980, after a century of tradition. Calixa Lavallée, a well-known musician at the time, provided the music for O Canada, and Sir Adolphe-Basile Routhier wrote the French words.
As the song grew in popularity, various English versions were developed, including one based on a poem penned in 1908 by The Honourable Robert Stanley Weir. Weir’s lyrics were adopted as the official English version in 1980.
On January 31, 2018, legislation was enacted to amend the English lyrics from “True patriot love in all thy sons command” to “True patriot love in all of us command,” making the song gender neutral.
Oh Canada Lyrics Video Song on Youtube
Oh Canada Lyrics in English
O Canada!
Our home and native land!
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.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
Oh Canada Lyrics in French
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.
Timing and etiquette to use Oh Canada Lyrics as a anthem
When it is proper to perform the national anthem at an occasion, there is no set guideline. It is up to the organisers to decide whether O Canada will be performed at the start or finish of an event. If two anthems are to be played at the start of an event, O Canada should come first, followed by the other. O Canada should be performed last when anthems are played at the conclusion of an event.
It is appropriate to stand during the playing of O Canada out of respect and tradition; the same is true for any other nation’s anthem. During the playing of the national anthem, it is customary for civilian males to remove their hats. On such occasions, women and children do not remove their hats.
There is no legislation or rule guiding the playing of the national anthem; it is left to individual good citizenship.
