Ottawa
– In a stunning revelation today, Senator Vivienne Poy announced the discovery
of the original text of our national anthem, O Canada. Senator Poy stated: “This
discovery will fundamentally change the way Canadians view their national
anthem.”
Senator
Poy explained that “as a result of the publicity surrounding my proposal of a
private member’s bill to change the lyrics of O Canada, many Canadians from
across the country have been writing to share their thoughts on the anthem.
One individual, Nancy MacLeod of Toronto, brought to my attention the
original 1908 text. I would like to
take this opportunity to thank Ms. MacLeod for sharing this with us.”
In
the newly released 1908 text, the first lines of His Hon. R. Stanley Weir’s
anthem read: “O Canada!
Our home, our native land, True patriot love thou dost in us command.”
In 1914 the anthem was re-copyrighted with the lyrics:
“O Canada! Our home and native land True patriot love in all thy sons
command.”
This 1914 version of O Canada was until today accepted to be Weir’s
1908 first version.
The
discovery of the anthem dramatically changes the debate surrounding Senator
Poy’s private member’s bill, Bill S-39.
The bill would amend the National Anthem Act of 1980 to replace the
reference to one gender, as expressed in the phrase ‘true patriot love in all
thy sons command” with words that would include all Canadians.
As a result of
consultations with Canadians and experts over the summer and the discovery of
the original wording, Senator Poy also announced today that she is proposing
that the first line now read “O Canada! Our
home and native land True patriot love in all of us command.”
“The
main opposition to changing the lyrics focused on the contention that we should
not alter the original intent of the anthem,” she said. “While I never agreed with that line of reasoning, the fact
that the original wording was inclusive of both men and women should assuage
concerned Canadians: clearly, we are honouring the spirit of Weir’s anthem.”
Attached:
1908 version of His Hon. R. Stanley Weir’s O Canada!
O
Canada!
Our
home, our native land,
True
patriot love thou dost in us command.
We
see thee rising fair, dear land,
The
True North strong and free;
And
stand on guard,
O
Canada,
We
stand on guard for thee.
O
Canada!
Where
Pines and Maples grow,
Great
prairies spread and lordly rivers flow.
Thou
art the land,
O
Canada,
From
East to Western sea,
The
land of hope for all who toil,
The
land of liberty.
O
Canada!
Beneath
thy shining skies
May
stalwart sons and gentle maidens rise;
And
so abide,
O
Canada,
From
East to Western sea,
Where
e’er thy pines and prairies are,
The
True North strong and free.
Written by His Hon. R. Stanley Weir, 1908.