The Maple Leaf Forever
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"The Maple Leaf Forever" was written by Alexander Muir (1830–1906) in 1867, the year of Canada's Confederation.
Muir was said to have been inspired to write this song by a huge maple tree which stood on his property: Maple Cottage, a house at Memory Lane and Laing Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The song became quite popular in English Canada and for many years served as an unofficial national anthem. Because of its strongly British perspective it became unpopular amongst French Canadians, and this prevented it from ever becoming an official anthem.
Original lyrics
In days of yore, from Britain's shore,
Wolfe, the dauntless hero came,
And planted firm Britannia's flag,
On Canada's fair domain.
Here may it wave, our boast, our pride,
And joined in love together,
The thistle, shamrock, rose entwined,
Chorus:
The Maple Leaf, our emblem dear,
The Maple Leaf forever!
God save our Queen, and Heaven bless,
The Maple Leaf forever!<p>
At Queenston Heights and Lundy's Lane,
Our brave fathers, side by side,
For freedom, homes, and loved ones dear,
Firmly stood and nobly died;
And those dear rights which they maintained,
We swear to yield them never!
Our watchword evermore shall be,
The Maple Leaf forever!<p>
Our fair Dominion now extends
From Cape Race to Nootka Sound;
May peace forever be our lot,
And plenteous store abound:
And may those ties of love be ours
Which discord cannot sever,
And flourish green o'er freedom's home
The Maple Leaf forever!
Chorus:
On Merry England's Far Famed Land
May Kind heaven Sweetly Smile,
God Bless Old Scotland Evermore
and Ireland's Emr'ld Isle!
And Swell the Song Noth Loud and Long
Till Rocks and Forest Quiver!
God Save our Queen and Heaven Bless
The Maple Leaf Forever!
New lyrics
CBC Radio's Metro Morning show in Toronto ran a contest to to find new lyrics for the song in 1997. The contest was won by Romanian émigré Vladimir Radian. The new version received its first full orchestral treatment on June 27, 1997 at a concert by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
Radian, a mathematician who is now a songwriter, actor and poet, came to Canada in the 1980s.
O, land of blue unending skies,
Mountains strong and sparkling snow,
A scent of freedom in the wind,
O'er the emerald fields below.
To thee we brought our hopes, our dreams,
For thee we stand together,
Our land of peace, where proudly flies,
The Maple Leaf forever.
Chorus:
Long may it wave, and grace our own,
Blue skies and stormy weather,
Within my heart, above my home,
The Maple Leaf forever!
From East and West, our heroes came,
Throught icy fields and frozen bays,
Who conquered fear, and cold, and hate,
And their ancient wisdom says:
Protect the weak, defend your rights,
And build this land together,
Above which shine the Northern Lights,
And the Maple Leaf forever!
(Chorus)
Sur mers sauvages ou glaciers durs,
Tant d'heros se sont suivis,
En conquerant la peur, le froid,
Et les tempetes de leurs vies.
Et tant de braves, rouges ou blancs,
Reposent ici ensemble,
De noble sang, de tant de neige,
Est nee la feuille d'erable.
Refrain
De leurs exploits, de leurs travaux,
Et leur courage sublime,
Dans leurs vieux reves reunis,
Puisons nouvelles racines.
Refrain Reprise
Sur nos montagnes, dans nos prairies,
A travers temps et sable,
Aimons toujours la fleur de lys,
Toujours, la feuille d'erable.
Oh, Maple Leaf, around the world,
You speak as you rise high above,
Of courage, peace and quiet strength,
Of the Canada I love.
Remind us all our union bound,
By ties we cannot sever,
Bright flag revered on every ground,
The Maple Leaf forever!
(Chorus)
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