"O Canada" (national anthem)

"O Canada" is the national anthem of Canada. It has two versions—one each in English and French—in recognition of Canada’s bilingual heritage. Although "O Canada" has been Canada’s de facto national anthem since the first half of the twentieth century, it was not formally declared as the nation’s official song until July 1, 1980.

History

"O Canada" began as a song composed by Calixa Lavallée with French lyrics by Adolphe-Basile Routhier for a banquet promoting both the Congrès national des Canadiens-Français and the St. Jean-Baptiste Society on June 24, 1880, in Quebec City. (Ironically, the latter organization is now a strong advocate for Quebec’s independence from Canada.) During this same period, "The Star-Spangled Banner" was gaining broad popular support as the national anthem of the United States (and would be recognized officially as such in 1931). In Canada, however, several different songs, including "God Save the Queen," "The Maple Leaf Forever," "Vive la canadienne," "A la claire fontaine," and "Un canadien errant," were used regularly in unofficial capacities as patriotic national songs. "O Canada" remained little known in English-speaking Canada until a group of schoolchildren sang it for the future King George V of England during a royal tour of Canada in 1901. Within a few years, English-speaking advocates of Lavallée’s song began to petition for a matching set of English lyrics to compliment those written by Routhier. Several versions were written and performed, including translations by Dr. Thomas Bedford Richardson and Mercy E. Powell McCulloch, the latter of whom won a song-writing contest sponsored by Collier’s Magazine. The version that gained the widest acceptance, however, was written by Robert Stanley Weir in 1908. Weir’s lyrics were not a direct translation and took some liberties with Routhier’s original message. The lyrics were amended twice, first in connection with their adoption as the official song for Canadian schools in 1927 and then for their official selection as the national anthem in 1980. "God Save the Queen," the other primary candidate in the running to become Canada’s national anthem, was instead officially installed as Canada’s Royal Anthem.

Significance of the Lyrics

The French and English lyrics emphasize different aspects of Canadian national identity. The St. Jean-Baptiste Society, the original sponsor of the song, was initially committed to both retaining the distinctiveness of French-language culture and promoting Roman Catholicism in Canada, so the French lyrics say, "Car ton bras sait porter l’épée / Il sait porter la croix!" This translates in English to, "Because your arm is known to carry the sword, / He knows how to carry the cross!" As such, the French lyrics emphasize the importance of religion through inclusion of the cross, a key Christian symbol, while also stressing a willingness to defend it. Similarly, the lyrics further reference this idea by noting how "ta valeur, de foi trempée, / Protégera nos foyers et nos droits," or "your value, soaked faith, / Will protect our homes and our rights."

By comparison, the English version eliminates references to the cross, though it does still include religious language by virtue of the line "God keep our land glorious and free!" However, religion is mostly deemphasized in favor of highlighting a message that promotes the patriotism felt by Canadians. The line "O Canada, we stand on guard for thee" repeats three times (in a song with only ten lines), thus particularly encouraging the ideological obligations expected of Canadians in defending their country.

Contemporary Issues

Some controversy surrounds the lyrics to "O Canada." Perhaps most problematic is that Weir’s version of Routhier’s lyrics is not a direct translation. As Canada is officially a bilingual nation, meaning that both languages have equal status in all government affairs, efforts usually are made to have all materials (such as signs and government forms) printed in both French and English. With regard to "O Canada," this custom is extended to singing the song in both languages. Rather than singing the song twice—once in each language—at events, however, a bilingual version that combines lyrics from both often is used. The result is a confusing mixture that uses the first and fourth verses from the English version and the second and third verses from the French. The combined anthem thus alternates without transition from promoting the patriotism of Canadians to promoting the power of the cross. As a result, a song that is supposed to promote the national unity of all Canadians instead serves to subtly underscore its differences.

Other controversies have dogged "O Canada." The repeated religious imagery in the French lyrics has led to calls for their revision, particularly in light of the fact that they have remained unchanged since their original creation more than 130 years ago, even as the English lyrics have undergone several alterations in their shorter history. Also, while Weir’s 1908 version of the English lyrics were gender neutral, subsequent revisions have changed the second line to read "True patriot love in all thy sons command," which several women’s groups have argued is sexist. This has led to conflict between traditionalists, who want the anthem to remain unchanged, and feminists, who perceive the lyrics as non-inclusive of all Canadians. The proposed alterations have not yet gained widespread support nationally, but the issue remains controversial enough that it continues to receive consideration before the Canadian Parliament on a regular basis.

Bibliography

"Canada." nationalanthems.info. nationalanthems.info. Ed. David Kendall. Web. 6 Dec. 2015. http://www.nationalanthems.info/ca.htm

Cody, Henry John. "The History and Significance of the National Anthem." The Empire Club of Canada Addresses. The Empire Club of Canada. Web. 6 Dec. 2015. http://speeches.empireclub.org/62030/data

Galloway, Gloria. "Ottawa Gives Voice to Anthem Controversy." The Globe and Mail. The Globe and Mail Inc. 3 Mar. 2010. Web. 6 Dec. 2015. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-gives-voice-to-anthem-controversy/article1210208/

"The History of the National Anthem." Sing All of Us. Sing All of Us. Web. 6 Dec. 2015. http://singallofus.ca/the-anthem/

Mandel, Elizabeth. "Canadian Bilingualism Stops at the National Anthem." National Post. Postmedia Network. 3 Mar. 2012. Web. 6 Dec. 2015. http://news.nationalpost.com/full-comment/elizabeth-mandel-canadian-bilingualism-stops-at-the-national-anthem

"National Anthem: O Canada." Canadian Heritage. Government of Canada/Gouvernement du Canada. Web. 6 Dec. 2015. http://www.pch.gc.ca/eng/1359402373291/1359402467746