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"...The church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."
I Timothy 3:15
“O Canada” and Poetic Judges
Did you know that ‘O Canada’ was originally a poem written in French by Adolphe-Basile Routhier, a Quebec judge? Canadian composer Calixa Lavallée was commissioned to set it to music, and it was first sung in 1880 during a national convention of French Canadians in Québec City.
The English version was written, oddly enough, by another judge, Robert Stanley Weir. Judge Weir’s poem was penned in 1908 to honour the 300th anniversary of the founding of Québec City.
A slightly modified version of the first verse of Weir’s poem was proclaimed Canada’s national anthem on July 1, 1980.
Here is his complete poem:
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.
Refrain
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!
Refrain
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! 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
O Canada, glorious and free!
We stand on guard, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada,
we stand on guard for thee!
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, glorious and free!
We stand on guard, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada,
we stand on guard for thee!